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d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

THE  BATTLE  OF   LAKE   CHAMPLAIN. 


1:   cv:-:   T^ «. 


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BLUE  JACKETS  OE  l8l2 


A  HISTORY  OF  THE  NAVAL  BATTLES  OF  THE  SECOND 
WAR  WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN 


TO   WHICH    IS   PREFIXED  AN   ACCOUNT  OF 


THE    FRENCH    WAR    OF    1798 


BY 


WILLIS    J.    ABBOT 

AUTHOR   OF   BLUE  JACKETS  OF   '6l 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  W.  C.  JACKSON  AND  H.  W.  McVICKAR 


NEW  YORK 

DODD,    MEAD,    AND     COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


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Copyright,  1SS7, 
Bv   DODD,  MEAD,  AND   COMPANY. 


BURR   PRINTING   HOUSE,   NRW   YORK. 


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N 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

The  Gathering  of  the  War-Cloud.  — The  Revolution  ended,  but  the  War  for 
Independence  yet  unfought.  — Outrages  upon  American  Sailors.  — The  Right 
OF  Search.  —  Impressment.  —  Boyhood  of  Commodore  Porter.  —  Early  Days  of 
Commodores  Perry  and  Barney.  — Burning  a  Privateer.  —  The  Embargo.  — War 
Inevitable 


PAGE 


CHAPTER   n. 

War  with  France.  — The  Building  of  a  Navy.  — First  Success  for  the  Americans. 

—  Cutting  out  the  "Sandwich."  — The  "Constellation  "  and  "L'Insurgente." 

—  The  "Constellation"  and  "La  Vengeance" 


36 


CHAPTER   in. 

Proposed  Reduction  of  the  Navy.  — Renewal  of  British  Outrages.  — The  Affair 
of  the  "Baltimore."  — Attack  on  the  "Leander."— Encou.-jter  between  the 
"Chesapeake"  AND  "Leopard."  — The  "President"  and  "Little  Belt"     .       .      70 

CHAPTER   IV. 

The  War  on  the  Ocean.  — Commodore  Rodgers's  Cruise.  — The  Loss  of  the  "Nau- 
tilus."—  First  Success  for  the  British. — The  Escape  of  the  "Constitution." 
—  The  "  Essex  "  takes  the  "  Alert."— The  "  Constitution  "  and  the  "  Guerriere,"     96 


CHAPTER  V. 

An   International   Debate.  — The  "Wasp"   and   the   "Frolic."  — The   "United 

States"  and  THE  "Macedonian."  — Ovations  to  the  Victors 124 

Ui 


ma^ 


IV 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


PAOK 


BAINBRtDGE  TAKES  CoMMAND  OF  THE  "  CONSTITUTION."  — THE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  "JAVA." - 

Close  of  the  Year's  Hostilities  on  the  Ocean ir2 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

The  War  on  rm:  Lakes.— The  Attack  on  Sackett's  IlARnoR.  — Oliver  Hazard 
Perry  ordered  to  Lake  Erie.— The  Battle  ok  Put-in-Bav 167 


CHAPTER  Vni. 

On  the  Ocean.  — The  "Hornet"  sinks  the  "  Peacock."  — The  Blockade.  — Ad\en- 

TURES   OK  THE  "  SaLLV."  —  HOSTILITIES   ON   CHESAPEAKE   BaV.  —  ThE  CRUISE  OF  THE 

"  President  " , 


95 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Decatur  blockaded  at  New  York.  — Attempts  to  escape  through  Long  Island 
Sound.  — The  Flag-Ship  struck  by  Lightning. — Torpedoes.  —  Fulton's  Steam- 
Frigate. —  Action  between  the  "Chesapeake"  and  "Shannon"  .        .        .        .217 

CHAFIER   X. 

Cruise  of  the  "Essex."  — A  Rich  Prize.  — The  Mysterious  Letter.— Cape  Horn 
ROUNDED.  —  Capture  ok  a  Peruvian  Privateer.  —  Among  the  British  Whalers. 
—  Porter  in  Command  ok  a  Squadron.  — A  Boy  Commander.— The  Squadron 
lays  up  at  Nookaheevah 236 

CHAPTER   XI. 

War  with  the  Savages.  —  The  Campaign  against  the  Typees.  —  Departure  from 
Nookaheevah.  —  The  "Essex"  anchors  at  Valparaiso.  —  Arrival  of  the 
"Phcebe"  and  "Cherub."  — They  capture  the  "Essex."— Porter's  Encounter 
with  the  "Saturn."  — The  Mutiny  at  Nookaheevah       ......    254 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Capture  of  the  "Surveyor."  — Work  of  the  Gunboat  Flotilla.  —  Operations  on 
Chesapeake  Bay.  —  Cockburn's  Depredations.  —  Cruise  of  the  "Argus."  — F!er 
Capture  BY  the  "Pelican."  —  Battle  between  the  "Enterprise"  and  "Boxeh." 
—  End  of  the  Year  1813  on  the  Ocean 


280 


^fm'^s-tfmmm 


CONTENTS. 


CHAFFER  XIII. 


PAGE 


On  the  Lakes.  — Close  of  Hostilities  on  Lakes  Erie  ano  Huron.  —  Desultory 
Warfare  on  Lake  Ontario  in  1813.  —  Hostilities  on  Lake  Oniario  in  1814. — 
The  Battle  of  Lake  Champlain.  —  End  of  the  War  uton  the  Lakes        .       .    296 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

On  the  Ocean. —Thf.  Work  of  the  Sloops-of-War.  —  Loss  of  the  "Frolic."  — 
Fruitless  Cruise  of  the  "AoAiMs."  —  Thl  "Peacock"  takes  the  "ErF..a'iER." 
—  The  Cruise  of  the  "Wasp."  — She  captures  the  "Reindeer."  —  Sinks  the 
"Avon."  — Mysterious  End  OF  the  "  Wasp" 314 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Operations  on  the  New  England  Coast.  — The  Bombardment  of  Stonington. — 
Destruction  of  the  United  States  Corvette  "Adams."  —  Operations  on  Ches.v 
peake  Bay.  —  Work  of  Barney's  Barge  Flotilla.  —  Advance  of  the  British  upon 
Washington.  —  Destruction  of  the  Capitol.  —  Operations  against  Baltimore. 
—  Bombardment  of  Fort  McHenry 


335 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Desultory  Hostilities  on  the  Ocean.  —  Attack  upon  Fort  Bowyer.  —  Lafittethe 
Pirate.  —  British  Expedition  against  New  Orleans.  —  Battle  of  the  Riuolets. 
—  Attack  on  New  Orleans,  and  Defeat  of  the  British.  —  Work  of  the  Blue- 
Jackets. —  Capture  of  the  Frigate  "President."  —  The  "Constitution"  takes 
THE  "Cyane"  and  "Levant."  —  The  "Hornet"  takes  the  "Penguin."  —  End 
of  the  War 


361 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Privateers  and  Prisons  of  the  War.  — The  "Rossie."  — Salem  Privateers.— The 
"  Gen.  Armstrong  "  gives  Battle  to  a  British  Squadron,  and  saves  New  Orleans. 
—  Narrative  of  a  British  Officer.  — The  "Prince  de  Neufchatel."— Experi- 
ences OF  American  Prisoners  of  War.  —  The  End -387 


u 


,  f'tr-.'  ":'■•  i-ffifn0ff0~ 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


IUttlf,  of  Lake  Champlain     . 

Derelict 

•  •  . 

CUITING   AWAY  THE   FLAG 

The  Last  of  the  Uritish    . 
The  Right  of  Search    . 
IUrney  regains  his  Ship 

liURNING   a    IlKMUDIAN   PrIVATEER 

Toasting  the  Wooden  Walls  of  C-lumbia 

A  Lesson  to  Privateers 

Hull  makes  a  Reconnoissance 

The  Midnight  Uattle    . 

The  Fight  with  the  Picaroons    . 

The  British  Squadron  .  ,  .  _ 

The  "Chesapeake"  and  the  "Leopard" 

Lieut.  Allen  fires  a  Shot 

Commodore  Rodgers  hails. 

The  Press-Gang    . 

Explosion  on  the  "President" 

The  Escape  of  the  "Constitution". 

"HirLL  her,  Boys!"  . 

"  Constitution  "  and  "  Guerriere  "    . 

Prisoners  in  the  Hulks     . 

Loading 

Boarding  the  "Frolic" 

Ready  to  board   , 

Assuming  to  be  British  Mf.n-of-War 

Marines  picking  off  thh:  Enemy 

Jn  the  Cross-Trees    .... 

The  Last  of  the  "Java" 

Sailors  bound  for  the  Lakes 

Perry's  Recruits  . 

•  •  • 

Drilling  the  Raw  Recruits 


PAGE 

Frontispiece 

•  .1 
5 

•  7 

21 

•  24 

3» 

•  39 
48 

•  SI 
S8 

•  63 
72 

.  80 

82 

.  86 

93 

.  100 

106 

•  "7 

ISO 

•  127 
131 

•  134 
136 

•  IS4 
'57 

•  '59 
163 

•  '75 
180 

.  182 


vu 


Vlll 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Before  the  Battle        .... 

Commodore  Perry  at  the  Baitle  of  Lake  Erie 

Making  Ready  to  leave  the  "Lawrence" 

Perry  under  Fire 

Awaiting  the  Boarders 

CurriNG  OUT  Prizes  . 

"  I  AM  Commodore  Rodgers  "  . 

Jack  at  Home. 

Beating  to  Quarters     . 

The  Death  of  Lawrence    . 

On  Board  the  "Chesapeake". 

The  Peruvian  Privateer     . 

The  Duel  at  the  Galapagos  Lslands  . 

The  War  Dance 

Firing  the  Howitzer     . 

The  Fight  at  Nookaheevah 

Capture  of  the  "Essex" 

Blue-Jackets  at  the  Guns  . 

The  Fight  with  the  "Boxer" 

The  Surrender  of  the  "Boxer" 

On  the  Way  to  Lake  Erie 

Hiram  Paulding  fires  the  Guns 

Boarding  the  "Reindeer" 

The  Captain  of  the  "Reindeer" 

The  End  of  the  "Reindeer"  . 

The  End  of  the  "  Wasp  "   . 

The  Descent  on  Wareham 

The  Battle  of  the  Barges 

Sharp-shooters     .  . 

The  March  on  Washington 

The  Burning  of  Washington  . 

Planning  the  ArrACK 

The  Star  Spangled  Banner    . 

"President"  and  "Endymion" 

The  "  President  "  tries  to  escape 

Foundered  at  Sea     . 

Privateersmen  at  Home 

Prison  Chaplain  and  Jailor 

King  Dick  and  his  Chaplain  . 

The  Last  Volley  of  the  War 


PAGE 

i8s 

.  i88 

191 

•  193 
208 

.  211 

21S 
.  216 

227 

.  230 

232 

•  243 
248 

.  251 

256 

•  259 
274 

.  288 
292 

•  294 
297 

•  308 

•  325 

3--7 

•  331 
337 

•  342 
347 

•  349 
35' 

•  354 
358 

•  372 
374 

•384 
394 

.  401 
406 

.  408 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE  GATHERING  OF  THE  WAR-CLOUD. -THE  REVOLUTION  ENDED,  BUT  THE  WAR  FOR 
INDEPENDENCE  YET  UNFOUGHT. -OUTRAGES  UPON  AMERICAN  SAILORS.-THE  RIGHT 
OF  SEARCH.  — IMPRESSMENT. -r.OYHOOD  OF  COMMODORE  PORTER.  — EARLY  DAYS  OF 
COMMODORES  PERRY  .\ND  BAKNEY.  —  BURNING  A  PRIVATEER.  -  THE  EMBARGO.— 
WAR    INEVITABLE. 


N  a  bright  November  afternoon  in  the  year  1783,  the  streets 
of  New  York  City,  bordering  on  the  bay,  were  crowded  with 
excited  people,  pushing  and  elbowing  each  other  rudely,  and  all 
pressing  down  to  the  water-side,  where  was  collected  a  huge 
crow^,  looking  anxiously  across  the  broad  waters  of  the  noble  bay,  *j  a 
spot  where  lay  anchored  a  large  squadron  of   ships.     The   taut   cordage, 


I 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


the  trimly  squared  yards,  and  the  rows  of  cannon  protruding  from  the 
open  ports  made  it  evident  to  the  veriest  landsman  that  many  of  the  ships 
were  men-of-war ;  while  the  scarlet  flags  crossed  by  the  emblem  of  St. 
George,  flaunting  from  the  peak  of  every  vessel,  declared  the  allegiance  of 
the  fleet  to  the  monarch  of  Great  Britain,  against  whose  rule  the  hardy 
Colonists  had  been  for  years  waging  a  warfare,  now  to  end  in  victory. 
Between  the  ships  and  the  landing-place  of  old  Fort  George,  that  then 
stood  where  now  extends  the  green  sward  of  the  Battery  park,  a  fleet 
of  long-boats  was  actively  plying ;  the  long,  swinging  strokes  of  the 
blue-clad  sailors  stamping  them  as  men-o'-war's  men  beyond  doubt.  The 
landing-place  was  thronged  with  troops,  whose  glistening  muskets,  scarlet 
coats,  gold  trimmings,  and  waving  plumes  contrasted  beautifully  with  the 
bright  blue  jackets  of  the  sailors,  as  file  after  file  of  the  soldiers  boarded 
the  boats,  and  were  rowed  away  to  the  waiting  ships.  The  troops  drawn 
up  on  the  shore  formed  long  lines  of  scarlet  against  the  green  back- 
ground of  the  bastions  of  Fort  George.  The  men  standing  at  rest  talked 
loudly  to  each  other  of  the  coming  voyage,  and  now  and  again  shouted 
fiercely  at  some  soberly  clad  citizen  who  strolled  too  near  the  warlike  ranks  ; 
for  had  not  all  the  sturdy  citizens  of  New  York  come  down  to  see  the 
hated  British  evacuate  the  city,  forced  out  by  the  troops  of  Gen.  Wash- 
ington (plain  Mr.  Washington,  the  British  liked  to  call  him) .'  The  ragged 
gamins  scurried  here  and  there,  yelling  ribald  jests  at  the  departing 
soldiers ;  and  the  scarlet-coated  troopers  had  hard  work  keeping  down 
their  rising  anger,  as  suggestive  cries  of  "boiled  lobsters"  rose  on  every 
side.  Even  the  staid  citizens  could  hardly  conceal  their  exultation,  as 
they  thought  that  with  those  soldiers  departed  forever  the  rule  of  Great 
Britain  over  the  Colonies.  It  was  a  quaint-looking  crowd  that  had  gathered 
that  day,  at  the  end  of  the  little  town.  The  sturdy  mechanics  and  laborers, 
who  were  most  numerous,  were  dressed  in  tight  leather  or  yellow  buck- 
skin breeches,  checked  shirts,  and  flaming  red  flannel  jackets.  Their  heads 
were  covered  with  rusty  felt  hats,  cocked  up  at  the  sides  into  a  triangular 
shape,  and  decorated  with  feathers  or  bright  buckles.  On  their  feet  were 
heavy  leathern  shoes,  fastened  with  huge  brass  buckles  that  covered  the 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


entire  instep.     Here  and  there  in  the  crowd  stood  a  prosperous  merchant 
or  man   of  fashion,  whose  garb,  if  less  rough  than  that  of  his  humbler 


./"'■ 


DERELICT. 


fellow-citizen,  was  no  less  odd  and  picturesque.  At  first  sight,  an  observer 
might  think  that  all  the  men  of  New  York  were  white-haired  ;  but  a 
closer  examination  would  show  that  the  natural  color  of  the  hair  was  hid 
by  dense  layers  of  white  powder.     The  hair  was  done  up  in  a  short  cue 


m^^SB 


'mmmm 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


tied  by  black  ribbons,  and  on  top  of  all  rested  a  three-cornered  cocked 
hat,  heavily  laced  with  gold  or  silver  braid.  The  coat  was  light-colored, 
with  a  profusion  of  silver  buttons,  stamped  with  the  wearer's  monogram, 
decorating  the  front.  Over  the  shoulders  hung  a  short  cape.  The  knee- 
breeches,  marvellously -tight,  ended  at  the  tops  of  gaudy  striped  stockings, 
which  in  turn  disappeared  in  the  recesses  of  pointed  shoes  adorned  with 
gleaming  buckles.  The  broad  cuffs  of  the  coat -sleeves  were  heavily  laden 
with  lead,  to  keep  them  in  proper  position. 

Such  were  the  characteristics  of  the  crowd  that  had  assembled  that 
day  to  witness  the  closing  scene  of  British  domination  in  America.  Even 
as  they  stood  there,  they  heard,  faintly  rising  on  the  autumnal  air,  the 
sound  of  the  fife  and  drum,  as  the  American  troops  came  marching  down 
into  the  city,  from  their  camp  at  the  upper  end  of  the  island.  And,  as 
the  last  boat-load  of  grenadiers  pushes  off  from  the  shore,  the  crowd,  no 
longer  restrained  by  the  glittering  bayonets,  rushes  down  to  the  water's 
edge,  and  hurls  taunts  and  gioes  after  the  retreating  boats,  until  the 
grizzled  old  soldiers  curse  the  "  Yankee  rebels  "  fiercely,  under  their  mus- 
taches, and  beg  the  officers  to  give  them  a  volley. 

Now  the  advance  guard  of  the  little  American  army,  with  fifes  shrill- 
ing out  the  notes  of  "Yankee  Doodle,"  comes  marching  down  to  the 
fort.  No  gay  trappings,  scarlet  or  gold  lace  about  these  soldiers,  but 
ragged  suits  of  homespun  and  homely  flint-lock  muskets,  whose  barrels 
are  better  burnished  within  than  without.  They  march  quickly  to  the 
water-front,  and  halt.  The  captain  looks  at  the  British  squadron,  now 
getting  under  way,  and  then,  with  true  soldierly  instinct,  flashes  a  glance 
to  the  top  of  the  flag-staff  in  the  centre  of  the  fort.  His  brow  contracts, 
he  stamps  his  foot,  and  the  soldiers  and  citizens  who  have  followed  his 
glance  break  out  into  a  cry  of  rage  that  rings  far  out  over  the  placid  waters 
of  the  bay,  and  makes  the  tough  old  British  veterans  chuckle  grimly  over 
the  success  of  their  little  joke  upon  the  Yankees ;  for  there,  high  above  the 
heads  of  the  wrathful  crowd,  flaunting  its  scarlet  folds  over  the  roofs  of 
the  liberated  city,  floats  proudly  the  British  Flag. 

"  Tear  it   down ! "     The  cry  rises  hoarsely  from  a  thousand  throats ; 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


and  the  Colonial  ofificer  springs  with  glittering  sword  to  cut  the  halliards, 
but  finds  them  cut  away  already,  and  the  flag  nailed  to  the  mast.     Then  a 


CUTTING  AWAY   THE  FLAG. 


trim  sailor-boy  works  his  way  through  the  crowd,  and,  grasping  the  pole 
firmly,  attempts  to  climb  up,  but  soon  slides  down  ingloriously  over  the 
greasy  surface,  freshly  slushed  by  the  British  before  their  departure.  The 
crowd  yells  in  wrathful  impotence  ;  and  a  few  hot-headed  youths  spring 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


forward,  axe  in  hand,  to  bring  down  pole  and  all  to  the  earth.  But  the 
firm  hand  of  the  commanding  officer  restrains  them.  He  whispers  a  few 
words  into  their  ears  ;  and  they  start  briskly  away,  followed  by  a  dozen  or 
two  of  the  steadily  growing  crowd. 

"  Gen.  Washington  will  be  here  soon,"  says  the  cajJtain ;  "  we  must 
get  that  rag  down  at  once." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  messengers  return.  They  have  been  to  a  neigh- 
boring hardware  store,  and  startled  the  gray-haired  old  merchant  so  that 
he  stared  vaguely  at  them  through  his  spectacles,  as  they  fiercely  demanded 
hammers,  nails,  and  wooden  cleats.  Loaded  with  these,  they  dash  back 
to  the  scene  of  action ;  and  again  the  sailor-boy  becomes  the  hero  of  the 
moment.  With  his  pockets  filled  with  cleats,  and  his  mouth  stuffed  with 
nails,  he  begins  again  his  ascent  of  the  slippery  staff.  He  nails  cleat 
after  cleat  upon  the  pole,  and  step  by  step  mounts  toward  the  top.  At 
last  he  reaches  the  flag;  and,  with  a  few  quick  jerks,  it  is  torn  from  the 
pole,  and  thrown  contemptuously  out  into  the  air,  to  float  down  upon 
the  crowd,  and  be  torn  to  pieces  by  curiosity  seekers.  Then  the  halliards 
are  lowered,  and  soon  the  flag  of  the  young  and  struggling  nation  floats 
in  the  cool  breeze ;  while  from  the  neighboring  heights  the  cannon  of 
the  forts  speak  in  deep-mouthed  salvos  of  applause,  that  mingle  with  the 
rejoicings  of  the  people,  and  do  not  cease  until  the  ships  of  the  enemy 
have  passed  through  the  Narrows,  and  are  out  of  sight  and  hearing.  The 
British  had  evacuated  New  York,  and  America  had  won  her  independence. 

Not  many  years,  however,  had  passed  after  this  memorable  event,  when 
the  citizens  not  only  of  New  York,  but  the  people  of  all  the  United 
States,  began  to  find  out  that  America  had  not  won  her  true  indepen- 
dence, but  merely  a  slight  relief  from  the  oppressions  of  Great  Britain. 
Already  the  nations  of  Europe  were  beginning  to  encroach  upon  the  rights 
and  liberties  of  the  infant  nation.  For  this  the  States  were  themselves 
greatly  to  blame.  Nobly  as  they  had  fought  in  unison  to  throw  off  the 
yoke  of  Great  Britain,  they  fell  into  strife  among  themselves  as  soon  as 
the  war  was  at  an  end,  and  by  their  quarrels  and  bickerings  led  all  the 
European  nations  to  believe  that  the  contentious   Colonies,  like  the  Kil- 


m- 
In. 

Its 


les 


las 


THE   LAST  OF   THE   BRITISH. 


IJLUK-JACKEIS  OF    1812. 


kenny  cats,  would  end  by  destroying  each  other.  Such  a  nation  could 
command  little  respect,  and  the  stronger  powers  were  not  slow  to  show 
their  contempt  for  the  United  States.  American  vessels,  coming  back  to 
port,  would  report  that  a  British  ship-of-war  had  halted  them  in  mid-ocean, 
and  seized  American  sailors  as  suspected  British  deserters.  Other  Ameri- 
can ships,  sailing  full  of  hope  from  American  ports,  would  never  re-appear, 
and  their  fate  would  be  a  mystery,  until,  after  many  monthi,,  some  sailor 
wandering  home  told  of  his  ship's  capture  by  a  French  privateer  or  Tri- 
politan  war  vessel.  For  years  a  debasing  tribute  was  paid  to  the  Bashaw  of 
Tripoli,  upon-  condition  of  his  granting  to  American  ships  the  privileges 
of  the  sea,  that  are  the  undoubted  rights  of  every  nation  ;  yet  even  this 
compact  was  more  often  ignored  than  observed.  Small  wonder  was  it 
that  the  sage  old  statesman,  Benjamin  Franklin,  on  hearing  a  young  man 
speak  of  the  "glorious  war  for  independence,"  responded  gravely,  "Say 
rather  the  war  of  the  revolution :  the  war  for  independence  is  yet  to  be 
fought." 

In  the  year  1789,  the  States,  after  much  debate  and  bickering,  finally 
ratified  the  document  known  as  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 
While  the  work  of  the  American  Revolution  was  thus  being  completed, 
and  a  new  nation  was  being  formed,  events  were  transpiring  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic  that  were  destined  to  affect  gravely  the  growth  of  the 
new  nation.  The  oppressed  peasantry  and  laborers  of  France,  smarting 
under  the  wrongs  of  centuries,  rose  in  a  mighty  wave,  and  swept  away 
the  nobles,  their  masters.  The  royal  head  of  King  Louis  fell  a  prey  to  the 
remorseless  spirit  of  the  guillotine,  and  the  reign  of  terror  in  Paris  began. 
Soon  the  roll  of  the  drum  was  heard  in  every  European  city,  and  the 
armies  of  every  nation  were  on  the  march  for  France.  England  was 
foremost  in  the  fray ;  and  the  people  of  the  United  States,  seeing  their 
old  enemy  at  war  with  the  country  of  Lafayette,  fired  by  generous  enthu- 
siasm, were  ready  to  rush  to  the  aid  of  their  old  ally.  But  the  wise 
prudence  of  their  rulers  restrained  them ;  and  for  the  next  twenty  years 
the  United  States  were  neutrals,  while  all  the  nations  of  Europe  were 
plunged  in  war. 


T 


lO 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


i 


The  first  effect  of  this  condition  of  affairs  was  most  beneficial.  As 
neutrals,  the  ships  of  the  United  States  could  trade  with  all  the  battling 
peoples ;  while  any  vessel  flying  a  European  flag  was  sure  to  find  an 
enemy  somewhere  on  the  broad  seas,  and  suffer  confiscation.  While 
France  was  giving  her  farmers  and  mechanics  to  follow  in  the  glorious 
footsteps  of  Napoleon,  the  industrious  citizens  of  the  United  States  were 
reaping  a  rich  reward  in  trade  with  the  warring  nation.  The  farmers 
received  the  highest  prices  for  their  grain,  the  ingenious  mechanics  of 
New  England  reaped  fortunes  from  the  sale  of  their  wares,  and  the  ship- 
yards were  filled  to  their  greatest  capacity  with  the  graceful  frames  of 
fast  clipper  vessels  destined  for  the  trade  with  Europe.  In  1780  the 
shipping  of  the  United  States  was  confined  to  a  few  coasting-vessels,  and 
the  American  flag  was  seldom  seen  beyond  the  Atlantic.  Fifteen  years 
later,  the  white  sails  of  American  ships  dotted  every  sea,  and  but  few 
European  ports  did  not  show  some  trim  clipper  floating  in  the  harbor, 
bearing  at  her  peak  the  stars  and  striprs. 

From  Maine  to  Georgia  the  people  were  building  ships,  and  manning 
them.  The  vast  forests  resounded  with  the  strokes  of  the  woodman's  axe, 
getting  out  the  timber;  and  the  seaport  towns  were  given  over  to  ship- 
wrights, who  worked  day  and  night  at  their  craft.  In  New  England  there 
sprung  up  a  race  of  hardy  seamen.  Boys  of  twelve  or  fourteen  ran  away 
to  sea,  made  a  coasting  voyage  or  two,  and,  after  a  voyage  to  some 
European  port,  became  captains  of  ocean-going  ships,  —  often  before  they 
were  twenty  years  of  age.  The  people  of  the  coastwise  towns  of  New 
England  can  tell  of  hundreds  of  such  ca.ses.  There  was  "  Nat "  Palmer 
of  Stonington,  who  shipped  when  a  boy  of  fourteen,  and,  after  four  years' 
coasting,  was  made  second  mate  of  the  brig  "Herselias,"  bound  around 
Cape  Horn,  for  seals.  On  his  first  voyage  the  young  mate  distinguished 
himself  by  discovering  the  South  Shetland  Islands,  guided  by  the  vague 
hints  of  a  rival  sealer,  who  knew  of  the  islands,  and  wished  them  preserved 
for  his  own  trade,  as  the  seals  swarm  there  by  the  hundred  thousands. 
The  discovery  of  these  islands,  and  the  cargo  of  ten  thousand  skins  brought 
home   by  the  "  Herselias,"  made  young  Palmer  famous ;   and,  at  the  age 


iii 


';t(mf*m 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


1 1 


of  twenty,  he  was  put  in  command  of  a  sloop,  and  sent  to  the  South  Seas 
again.  One  day  he  found  his  passage  in  the  desired  direction  blocked  by 
two  long  islands,  with  a  narrow  opening  between  them.  To  go  around 
the  islands  would  have  been  a  long  voyage  ;  and  the  young  captain  headed 
his  craft  for  the  opening,  but  soon  found  himself  on  the  rocks.  Luckily, 
the  vessel  backed  off,  and  the  crew  set  about  repairing  damages.  While 
thus  engaged,  the  great,  blunt  head  of  a  whale  was  seen  in  the  narrow 
channel ;  and,  after  blowing  a  column  of  water  high  in  the  air,  the  monster 
swam  lazily  through  the  strait.  "  If  a  whale  can  go  through  that  channel, 
I  can,"  quoth  "Cap'n  Nat."  And  he  forthwith  did  so.  Quick  of  observa- 
tion, and  prompt  of  action,  the  sailors  of  the  United  States  became  the 
foremost  seamen  of  the  world,  and  guided  their  little  vessels  over  every 
known  sea. 

But  the  growing  commerce  of  the  United  States  was  destined  to  meet 
a  series  of  checks,  that  seemed  for  a  time  likely  to  destroy  it  forever. 
England,  jealous  of  the  encroachments  of  the  Americans  upon  the  broad 
seas  of  which  she  had  long  called  herself  the  mistress,  began  a  series  of 
outrages  upon  American  ships,  and,  not  content  with  acting  in  open 
hostility,  incited  the  piratical  rulers  of  Tripoli  and  Algiers  to  make  war 
upon  American  shipping.  In  this  volume  it  is  not  my  purpose  to  tell  of 
the  means  adopted  by  England  to  let  the  swarming  ships  of  the  Barbary 
pirates  out  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  to  prey  upon  the  vessels  of  the 
United  States  ;  nor  do  I  intend  to  tell  how,  after  peaceful  arguments  had 
been  exhausted,  Decatur  and  Preble,  with  a  fleet  of  American  vessels  and 
a  handful  of  fighting  jack-tars,  crossed  the  ocean,  and  thrashed  the  pirates 
of  the  Mediterranean  into  subjection.  That  may  well  be  left  for  future 
consideration,  and  this  chapter  devoted  to  a  history  of  the  acts  of  inso- 
lence and  oppression  on  the  part  of  England,  that  finally  forced  the 
United  States  to  declare  war  against  a  power  so  vastly  superior  to  them 
in  wealth,  population,  and  military  and  naval  strength. 

The  first  great  and  crying  outrage,  protested  against  by  the  statesmen, 
the  newspapers,  and  the  people  of  the  United  States,  was  the  so-called 
right  of  search.     By  this  was  meant  the  right  claimed  by  every  British 


12 


HLUK-JACKIiTS   OK    1812. 


H 


man-of-war  to  stop  an  American  vessel  on  the  high  seas,  muster  her  crew 
on  the  forecastle,  and  seize  and  carry  away  any  sailor  thought  to  be  a 
native  of  Great  Britain.  This  outrageous  act  was  committed  time  and 
time  again  by  the  commanders  of  British  frigates,  who  knew  no  easier 
way  of  filling  up  a  short-handed  crew  than  by  stopping  some  passing  vessel 
flying  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  taking  from  her  the  best-looking  sailors 
of  her  crew.  Hardly  a  week  passed  without  the  arrival  of  a  ship  at  New 
York,  New  London,  or  any  of  the  shipping  towns  of  New  England, 
bringing  some  such  tale.  The  merchant-vessel,  skimming  lightly  over 
the  ocean,  at  peace  with  all  the  world,  and  with  nothing  to  fear  save  the 
terrors  of  the  storms,  against  which  the  sturdy  mariners  knew  so  well 
how  to  guard,  would  be  suddenly  halted  by  a  shot  from  a  frigate  of  a 
nation  with  whom  the  United  States  had  no  quarrel.  A  hail  from  the 
frigate  told  the  American  to  come  up  into  the  wind,  while  a  boat  was 
sent  aboard.  Soon  a  long-boat  filled  with  man-o'-war's  men,  and  with  a 
beardless  young  midshipman  in  the  stern-sheets,  came  dancing  over  the 
water;  and  in  a  minute  or  two  a  lieutenant,  the  middy,  and  a  few  sailors 
clambered  aboard  the  wondering  merchantman.  There  was  small  ceremony 
about  the  proceedings  then. 

"Muster  your  men  aft,"  quoth  the  middy  peremptorily;  "and  you'd 
better  be  quick  about  it,  too." 

Perhaps  the  American  captain  protested,  —  they  generally  did,  —  and 
talked  about  the  peace  between  the  nations,  and  the  protection  of  his 
flag ;  but  his  talk  was  usually  of  little  a"ail. 

"  Get  those  man  aft,  and  be  quick  about  it,"  orders  the  British  officer. 
"  You've  got  deserters  from  his  Majesty's  service  in  your  crew ;  and  I'll 
have  them.     Do  you  want  me  to  send  the  boat  back  for  the  marines } " 

The  American  crew  came  aft  unwillingly,  grumbling,  and  cursing  his 
Majesty's  service  under  their  breath,  and  formed  a  line  before  the  boarding 
officer.  That  worthy  whispered  a  minute  or  two  with  the  boatswain  and 
sailors  who  came  aboard  with  him,  and  then,  pointing  out  one  man,  boldly 
claimed  him  as  a  British  subject.  American  captains  declared  that  the 
man   so   chosen   was   generally  the   most   ship-shape   sailor  aboard ;    and 


BLUK-JACKK'l'S  OK   1812. 


«.^ 


indeed  it  seemed  but  natural  that  the  J'Ji^lish,  in  fillin{;  out  their  crew, 
shduld  choose  the  best.  Sometimes  the  American  captain  went  on  board 
the  British  ship,  to  protest  aj^ainst  so  summary  a  draft  upon  his  crew. 
In  such  a  case  he  was  usually  received  with  courtesy  by  the  commander, 
but  never  did  he  regain  his  kidnapped  sailors.  The  commander  trusted 
in  every  thing  to  his  first  lieutenant,  who  boarded  the  merchantman  ;  and 
that  officer  was  thus  made,  in  the  words  of  an  English  journalist,  "at 
once  accuser,  witness,  judge,  and  captor." 

The  men  thus  pressed  were  expected  to  serve  with  all  the  zeal  and 
bravely  of  regularly  enlisted  sailors.  The  slightest  sign  of  hesitation  or 
unwillingness  was  met  with  blows.  A  pressed  man  who  refused  to  serve 
was  triced  up,  and  lashed  with  the  cat-o'-nine  tails  until  his  back  was  cut 
to  ribbons,  and  the  blood  spurted  at  every  blow.  Few  cared  to  endure 
such  punishment  twice.  Yet  the  sailors  taken  from  the  American  ships 
lost  no  opportunity  for  showing  their  desire  to  get  out  of  the  service  into 
which  they  had  been  kidnapped.  Desertions  from  ships  lying  near  the 
coast  were  of  weekly  occurrence,  although  recaptured  deserters  were  hanged 
summarily  at  the  yard-arm.  Sailors  who  found  no  chance  to  desert  made 
piteous  appeals  to  the  American  consuls  in  the  ports  at  which  they 
stop])eci,  or  wrote  letters  to  their  friends  at  home,  begging  that  something 
should  be  done  to  release  them  from  their  enforced  service.  It  was  not 
the  severity  of  man-o'-war  discipline  that  so  troubled  the  poor  fellows  : 
many  of  them  were  old  man-o'-war's  men,  and  all  would  have  been  glad 
of  berths  in  the  United  States  navy ;  but  the  sight  of  the  red  flag  of 
Great  Britain  waving  above  their  heads,  and  the  thought  that  they  were 
serving  a  nation  with  which  their  country  had  just  fought  a  bloody  war, 
were  intolerable. 

One  "pressed  man,"  on  a  British  ship  lying  in  the  West  Indies,  man- 
aged to  write  the  following  letter  to  a  newspaper  editor  in  New  York, 
and,  after  much  planning,  succeeded  in  mailing  it. 

Port  Royal,  Jamaica,  June  30,  1811. 
Mr.  Sn'Owden,  —  I  hope  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  publish  these  few  lines.    I, 
Edwin  Bouldin,  was  impressed  out  of  the  barque  "  Columbus "  of  Elizabeth  City, 


H 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


tfi  > 


and  was  carried  on  board  his  Britannic  Majesty's  brig  "  Rhodian,"  in  Montego  Bay, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Mowbary.  He  told  me  my  protection  was  of  no  consequence, 
and  he  would  have  me  whether  or  not.  I  was  born  in  Baltimore,  and  served  my 
time  with  Messrs.  Smith  &  Buchanan.  I  hope  my  friends  will  do  something  for 
me  to  get  my  clearance ;  for  I  do  not  like  to  serve  any  other  country  but  my  own, 
which  I  am  willing  to  serve.  I  am  now  captain  of  the  forecastle,  and  stationed 
captain  of  a  gun  in  the  waist.  I  am  treated  very  ill,  because  I  will  not  enter. 
They  request  of  me  to  go  on  board  my  country's  ships  to  list  men,  which  I 
refused  to  do,  and  was  threatened  to  be  punished  for  it. 

I  remain  a  true  citizen  of  the  United  States 

EDWIN   BOULDIN. 

Pathetic  letters  such  as  this  appear  often  in  the  columns  of  the  news- 
papers published  in  the  early  part  of  this  century,  and  are  usually  accom- 
panied by  petitions  from  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the  pressed  man, 
begging  that  Congress  take  some  action  to  secure  American  sailors  from 
such  outrages.  But  year  after  year  the  practice  went  on,  and  higher  and 
higher  grew  the  enmity  between  England  and  the  United  States.  Among 
the  sailors  who  suffered  impressment  at  the  hands  of  the  British  were 
many  who  afterward  in  the  naval  battles  of  the  ensuing  war  won  ample 
revenge  from  the  nation  that  had  so  abused  their  liberties. 

Most  prominent  of  all  these  men  was  David  Porter,  who,  from  the 
humble  station  of  a  cabin  boy  on  his  father's  ship  in  1796,  rose  in  twenty 
years  to  be  commodore  in  the  United  States  navy.  The  name  of  Porter 
is  one  famous  in  the  naval  annals  of  the  United  States ;  and  probably 
there  never  existed  a  family  in  which  the  love  for  the  life  of  a  fighting 
jack-tar  was  so  strong  as  among  these  representative  American  sailors. 
David  Porter,  sen.,  and  Samuel  Porter  served  the  American  Colonies 
dashingly  upon  the  sea  in  the  Revolution.  Of  David  Porter,  jun.,  we 
shall  have  much  to  say  in  this  volume.  Of  his  children,  the  eldest,  William 
D.,  rose  to  the  post  of  commodore.  United  States  navy,  and  died  of  wounds 
received  in  the  civil  war ;  Henry  O.  Porter  was  first  lieutenant  of  the 
"  Hattcras  "  when  she  sunk  before  the  fire  of  the  Confederate  ship  "  Ala- 
bama ; "   Thomas  Porter  served  in  the  Mexican  navy ;   Hambleton   Porter 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


15 


died  of  yellow-fever  while  a  midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy ; 
Lieut.  Theodoric  Porter,  U.S.A.,  was  the  first  officer  killed  in  the  Mexi- 
can war;  and  Admiral  David  D.  Porter,  U.S.N. ,  by  virtue  of  his  exploits 
on  blue  water  and  in  the  ditches  and  bayous  back  of  Vicksburg  during 
the  civil  war,  now  stands  at  the  head  of  living  naval  officers. 

But  to  return  to  David  Porter.  He  was  sixteen  years  old,  when,  in 
1796,  his  father,  having  obtained  command  of  a  vessel  in  the  West  India 
trade,  determined  to  take  the  lad  to  sea,  that  he  might  learn  the  profes- 
sion of  his  ancestors.  It  was  hardly  a  favorable  time  to  inspire  an  inde- 
pendent boy  with  admiration  for  the  life  of  an  American  merchant  sailor 
The  United  States  had  no  navy  to  protect  its  merchant  ships  ;  and  the 
British  cruisers  that  scoured  the  ocean  felt  little  hesitation  about  boarding 
the  ships  of  the  infant  nation,  and  kidnapping  such  sailors  as  they  might 
desire.  Of  this  young  Porter  soon  had  evidence.  While  his  ship,  the 
"  Eliza,"  was  lying  in  the  port  of  Jeremie  in  San  Domingo,  a  British 
frigate  came  into  the  harbor,  and  dropped  anchor  near  by.  One  morning 
the  lookout  on  the  "Eliza"  saw  a  boat,  manned  by  armed  men,  put  off 
from  the  frigate,  and  steer  for  the  American  merchantman.  The  move- 
ment was  quickly  reported  to  Capt.  Porter,  who  was  too  old  a  seaman 
not  to  know  what  it  portended,  and  too  plucky  an  American  to  submit 
wilhngly  to  any  indignity.  His  preparations  were  quickly  made ;  and  by 
the  time  the  frigate's  boat  came  alongside,  the  crew  of  the  "Eliza"  were 
armed  and  ready  to  rush  to  the  deck  at  the  first  alarm.  Capt.  Porter 
with  his  officers  and  son  stood  on  the  quarterdeck,  and  awaited  with  great 
dignity  the  arrival  of  the  boat.  Soon  the  British  came  alongside ;  and  an 
officer  in  the  stern-sheets  announced  that  he  was  about  to  board  the 
"  Eliza,"  and  demanded  to  search  the  vessels  for  deserters  from  the  British 
service. 

Capt.  Porter  replied  that  his  \  as  an  American  ship,  and  the  British 
might  board  at  their  peril ;  for  he  was  armed,  and  would  resist  the  boarders 
to  the  last  extremity.  A  great  laugh  went  up  from  the  boat  alongside. 
A  Yankee  merchantman  to  resist  British  sailors,  indeed !  And  the  officer, 
without  more  ado,  ordered  his  men  to  board.     Hardly  had  the  order  passed 


i6 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


his  lips,  than  Porter's  clear  voice  rang  out,  "Repel  boarders!"  and  the 
crew  of  the  "  Eliza,"  armed  with  pikes  and  muskets,  rushed  upon  their 
assailants,  and  drove  them  into  the  sea.  Young  Porter  was  not  behind- 
hand in  the  fight,  but  lent  his  boyish  aid  to  the  vindication  of  American 
sailors'  rights.  One  man  was  shot  down  by  his  side ;  and  Porter  received 
his  first  baptism  of  blood  in  this  encounter,  which  thus  early  rooted  in  his 
mind  a  detestation  for  the  arrogance  of  the  British,  and  a  determination 
to  devote  his  life  to  the  cause  of  his  seafaring  countrymen. 

On  his  second  voyage,  a  year  later,  young  Porter  was  destined  tO' 
experience  still  further  the  hardships  and  ignominy  which  American 
sailors  only  too  often  encountered  at  the  hands  of  the  British.  Once 
again  the  boy,  now  a  first  officer,  was  walking  the  deck  of  his  vessel  in 
a  San  Domingo  port,  when  a  boat's-crew  from  a  British  frigate  came  on 
board  on  the  usual  errand  of  impressment.  This  time  the  sturdy,  inde- 
pendent spirit  of  the  elder  Porter  was  absent ;  and  the  captain  of  the 
American  vessel  basely  permitted  a  portion  of  his  crew,  among  whom 
was  Porter,  to  be  carried  aboard  the  frigate,  where  they  were  to  be  kept 
until  they  agreed  to  enlist.  Loaded  with  irons,  they  were  thrust  into  "the 
brig,"  or  guard-room  of  the  frigate ;  but,  though  the  case  seemed  hope- 
less, Porter  gallantly  refused  to  enter  the  king's  service,  and  ceaselessly 
exhorted  his  comrades  to  stand  firm  against  the  commands  of  the  British. 
Days  passed,  and  still  the  frigate's  crew  was  in  no  wise  increased  from 
among  the  obstinate  Americans.  The  British  captain  lost  patience,  and 
commanded  that  all  the  prisoners  be  brought  out  on  deck,  triced  up,  and 
publicly  flogged  with  the  cat-of-nine  tails,  for  "the  bad  example  they  set 
the  crew  of  his  Majesty's  ship."  The  order  was  duly  put  into  execution. 
The  prisoners,  still  ironed,  were  brought  up  under  a  heavy  guard,  and 
taken  to  the  gratings  ;  but  when  young  Porter  reached  the  deck,  and  saw 
the  ignominious  punishment  in  store  for  him,  he  fought  desperately  with 
his  guards,  and,  finally  breaking  away,  ran  below,  and  hid  in  some  corner 
of  the  hold,  from  which  the  most  careful  search  failed  to  dislodge  him. 
The  captain  finally  gave  orders  to  leave  him  alone,  saying,  "  He'll  come 
out   fast   enough  when  he  gets   hungry."     But  the   lad  did  not  wait  for 


Mi 


BLUE-TACKETS  OF    1812. 


•7 


hunger  to  drive  him  from  his  hiding-place.  That  very  night  he  came 
from  the  hold,  crawled  stealthily  across  the  deck,  and  dropped  into  the 
water,  regardless  of  the  sharks  that  abound  in  those  tropic  seas.  A  short 
swim  took  him  to  a  Danish  vessel,  by  which  he  was  carried  across  the 
Atlantic.  Only  after  many  months  of  voyaging  as  a  common  sailor  did 
the  lad  succeed  in  working  his  way  back  to  his  home. 

Even  this  experience  could  not  deter  the  young  seaman  from  again 
seeking  employment  upon  the  billowy  main,  and  for  the  third  time  he 
shipped  upon  an  American  merchantman.  Again  his  course  lay  toward 
the  West  Indies,  and  again  he  was  intercepted  by  the  inevitable  man-of- 
war.  This  time  he  was  not  so  fortunate  as  to  escape  until  after  a  month 
or  more  of  captivity,  during  which  time  he  was  treated  with  the  greatest 
cruelty  on  account  of  his  persistent  refusal  to  serve  under  any  flag  save 
that  of  his  own  country.  At  last  he  made  his  escape,  and  reached  home. 
By  this  time  he  was  naturally  somewhat  disgusted  with  the  life  of  a 
sailor  on  an  American  merchant-vessel ;  and  he  cast  about  for  an  appoint- 
ment to  the  navy,  which  he  soon  received.  It  is  impossible  to  doubt 
that  his  three  adventures  with  the  British  press-gang  had  much  to  do 
with  the  ardor  and  bravery  with  which  in  later  days  the  young  sailor, 
then  elevated  to  the  highest  ranks,  did  battle  with  the  enemies  of  his 
country.  When,  at  the  close  of  the  War  of  181 2,  the  veteran  naval 
officer  looked  back  upon  his  record  during  that  conflict,  he  could  point 
to  one  captured  British  man-of-war  and  scores  of  captured  British  mer- 
chantmen as  the  measure  of  his  retaliation  for  the  v.ioi.gs  done  him  as  a 
defenceless  American  sailor-boy. 

Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  of  whose  famous  victory  over  the  British  on  Lake 
Erie  we  shall  speak  later,  also  was  brought  into  conflict  with  the  British 
in  the  days  of  the  "right  of  search."  His  father,  Christopher  Raymond 
Perry,  in  command  of  the  United  States  ship  "Gen  Greene,"  was  escorting 
an  American  brig  freighted  with  a  valuable  cargo.  Near  Gibraltar  they 
were  sighted  by  a  British  man-of-war,  which  bore  down  quickly  upon  the 
two  ships.  Perry  was  an  old  and  cautious  naval  officer ;  and,  though  peace 
reigned  between  his  country  and  Great  Britain,  he  no  sooner  sa\y  an  armed. 


i8 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


vessel  approaching,  than  he  put  his  vessel  in  trim  for  action,  and  sent  the 
crew  to  the  guns.  Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  great  English  man-o'-war ; 
and,  as  she  came  within  range,  a  puff  of  smoke  burst  from  her  bow-port,  and 
a  ball  skipped  along  the  water  before  Perry's  unarmed  convoy,  conveying  a 
forcible  invitation  to  heave  to.  Perry  at  once  made  signal  to  his  convoy  to 
pay  no  regard  to  the  Englishman  ;  and,  setting  the  American  flag,  the  two 
ships  continued  on  their  way.  But  at  this  moment  the  breeze  died  away, 
and  all  three  ships  lay  becalmed  within  easy  range  of  each  other.  The 
British  captain  was  not  slow  to  take  advantage  of  this  ;  and  a  boat  soon 
put  off  from  his  ship,  and  made  for  the  American  brig.  This  move  Perry 
promptly  checked  by  a  shot  from  the  "Gen.  Greene,"  which  so  narrowly 
missed  the  boat  that  the  crew  thought  it  well  to  run  alongside  the 
American  man-o'-war,  and  arrange  the  matter  peaceably.  As  the  boat 
came  alongside  the  "Gen.  Greene,"  the  gangway  was  manned,  and  the 
British  officer  escorted  with  the  greatest  formality  to  Perry's  presence. 

He  at  once  stated  his  purpose  in  attempting  to  board  the  merchant- 
man ;  claiming  that,  by  virtue  of  the  right  of  search,  he  was  entitled 
to  visit  the  brig,  and  examine  into  the  nationality  of  her  crew. 

"  I  deny  the  existence  of  any  right,  on  the  part  of  British  vessels,  to 
search  any  American  vessel,  except  with  the  consent  of  the  American 
commander,"  responded  Perry;  "and  my  shot  was  intended  to  warn  you 
that  you  had  received  no  such  permission." 

By  this  time  the  British  vessel  had  come  within  hailing  distance  of 
the  "  Gen.  Greene ; "  and  the  captain  demanded  why  his  boat  had  been 
fired  upon,  and  was  now  detained.  Perry  responded  in  the  same  words 
with  which  he  had  answered  the  boarding-officer. 

"  It's  a  most  surprising  thing,"  shouted  the  Englishman,  losing  his 
temper,  "if  a  British  seventy-four-gun  ship  cannot  search  a  pitiful  little 
Yankee  merchantman." 

"By  Heaven !  "  responded  Perry.  "If  you  were  a  ship  of  the  first  rate, 
you  should  not  do  it,  to  the  dishonor  of  my  flag."  And  in  an  instant  the 
ports  of  the  "Gen.  Greene"  were  triced  up,  and  the  British  captain  saw 
that  his  adversary  was  prepared  for  battle.     After  a  moment's  thought, 


BLUE-JACKETS  Ob    1812. 


19 


1 


he  abandoned  all  attempts  at  violence,  and  sent  a  courteous  letter  to 
Perry,  begging  leave  to  visit  the  brig  in  search  of  British  deserters,  which 
request  Perry  as  courteously  granted. 

To  this  list  of  American  seamen  who  suffered  indignities  at  the  hands 
of  the  British,  and  afterwards  won  reparation  from  their  enemies  in  the 
War  of  181 2,  may  be  added  the  name  of  Joshua  Barney.  Few  Americans 
have  given  to  their  country  a  longer  service  or  more  efficient  aid  than 
he.  In  the  little  Colonial  navy  of  the  Revolution,  he  held  higii  rank, 
and  won  the  plaudits  of  older  sailors.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  he 
served  for  a  time  in  the  merchant-marine ;  then  entered  the  naval  service 
of  France,  and,  at  the  first  news  of  war  between  England  and  America, 
returned  to  his  country,  to  enlist  under  the  stars  and  stripes.  It  was 
while  he  was  in  command  of  a  merchantman  that  he  was  brought  into 
collision  with  the  British  in  a  way  that  well  might  make  the  doughty  old 
sea-dog  doubt  if  the  Revolutionary  days,  when  he  suffered  in  the  noisome 
confines  of  Mill  Prison,  had  not  come  again. 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  1793,  that  the  good  ship  "Sampson,"  two 
days  out  from  Cape  Francois,  West  Indies,  was  slowly  making  her  way 
northward,  over  the  tropic .  seas,  and  under  the  glaring  rays  of  the  summer 
sun  of  the  torrid  zone.  Capt.  Barney  and  his  crew  were  ever  on  the 
watch  for  danger ;  for,  in  addition  to  the  hurricanes  and  typhoons  common 
to  the  equatorial  latitudes,  much  was  to  be  feared  from  the  lawless  British 
privateers  that  then  swarmed  in  the  West  Indies  and  Bermudas.  That 
the  "  Sampson "  was  under  the  flag  of  a  neutral  power,  was  but  little 
protectio)!  ;  for  the  commanders  of  the  semi-piratical  craft  cared  little  for 
international  law  or  for  justice.  War  was  raging  between  F'rance  and 
England  ;  and  a  mere  suspicion  of  traffic  with  French  colonies  was  enough, 
in  the  eyes  of  these  worthies,  to  condemn  a  vessel  of  any  nationality. 

Knowing  his  danger,  Capt.  Barney  strove  to  avoid  the  localities  fre- 
quented by  the  privateers,  but  to  no  avail  One  bright  morning,  the 
lookout  reported  three  sail  in  sight  from  the  masthead,  and  in  a  few  hours 
Barney  found  himself  hemmed  in  by  privateers.  Three  officers  boarded 
him,  and  began  a  rigid  examination  of  the  cargo  and  papers.     Two  finally 


20 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


expressed  themselves  as  satisfied  of  the  neutral  character  of  the  vessel ; 
but  the  third  exclaimed  that  he  had  discovered  in  the  cabin  an  iron  chest, 
full  of  money,  which  surely  proved  that  the  "  Sampson "  had  something 
to  do  with  the  French,  for  "  no  blasted  Yankee  ever  had  iron  chests  or 
dollars  on  board  his  vessel ! "  Such  conclusive  proof  as  this  could  not 
be  overlooked  by  the  sapient  privateers ;  and,  after  a  little  consultation, 
they  informed  Capt.  Barney  that  they  would  let  the  ship  go,  if  the  money 
were  given  to  them.  As  it  amounted  to  eighteen  thousand  dollars,  Capt. 
Barney  looked  upon  this  demand  as  nothing  short  of  robbery,  and  indig- 
nantly refused  to  consider  it ;  whereupon  his  captors  took  from  the 
"  Sampson  "  all  her  crew  except  the  carpenter,  boatswain,  and  cook,  sent 
a  prize-crew  aboard,  and  ordered  that  she  be  taken  to  New  Providence,  a 
British  naval  station.  The  privateers  were  soon  hull  down  on  the  horizon ; 
and  Barney  found  himself  a  prisoner  on  his  own  ship,  exposed  to  ceaseless 
insolence  from  the  British  prize-master. 

Several  days  passed,  as  the  "  Sampson "  lay  becalmed  in  the  tropics. 
Barney,  though  too  old  a  sailor  to  be  cast  down  by  misfortune,  never- 
theless chafed  under  his  situation.  From  prize-master  and  prize-crew  he 
received  nothing  but  scurrilous  epithets ;  and  the  oft -repeated  murmurs  of 
"Rebel  rascal!"  "Yankee  traitor!"  "Blow  out  his  brains!"  and  "Throw 
him  overboard ! "  made  it  hard  for  him  to  believe  the  Revolution  over, 
and  the  United  States  and  England  at  peace.  Even  while  they  thus 
abused  the  captain,  the  rogues  were  feasting  upon  his  provisions  and 
drinking  his  wines  ;  and  only  his  firm  refusal  to  give  up  his  keys  pre- 
vented their  rifling  his  iron  chest,  and  filling  their  pockets  with  his  dollars. 
At  last  he  began  to  feel  that  his  life  was  no  longer  safe  in  the  hands  of 
his  captors  ;  and,  though  he  had  by  him  but  three  men  of  his  original 
crew,  he  determined  to  attempt  to  recapture  the  ship. 

One  evening  the  captain  managed  to  catch  a  few  minutes'  conversation 
with  the  carpenter  and  boatswain  of  his  own  crew,  and  broached  to  them 
the  project  for  a  recapture.  No  argument  was  needed  to  induce  these 
bold  men  to  embark  in  the  perilous  enterprise.  Indeed,  from  the  very 
moment  of  the  capture,  they  must  have   cherished   some   such   purpose ; 


t 


THE  RIGHT  OF  SEARCH. 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


23 


for  each  had  hidden  away  in  his  bunk  a  gun  and  bayonet.  Barney,  on 
lis  part,  had  secreted  a  small  brass  blunderbuss  and  a  broad-sword ;  and 
/ith  this  meagre  armament  the  three  determined  to  take  the  ship  from 
|its  captors. 

The  success  of  the  project  then  depended  upon  a  favorable  opportu- 
[nity,  and  the  three  conspirators  watched  eagerly  for  the  decisive  moment 
I  to  arrive.  At  last  there  came  a  day  so  squally  that  all  the  prize-crew 
were  kept  busy  with  the  sails  all  the  morning.  Much  exhausted,  the 
sailors  sat  down  to  their  dinner  on  the  forecastle  at  noon,  while  the 
three  British  officers  spread  their  mess  amidships.  Barney  saw  that 
th .;  moment  had  arrived  ;  and,  giving  the  signal  to  his  men,  the  plotters 
went  below  for  their  weapons.  Barney  was  the  first  to  re-appear,  —  the 
blunderbuss,  loaded  and  cocked,  in  his  hand,  and  the  naked  cutlass  under 
his  arm.  Hardly  had  he  stepped  on  deck  when  one  of  the  officers  saw 
him,  and,  throwing  down  dishes  and  dinner,  sprang  at  the  American  and 
grappled  with  him.  Barney  struggled  violently,  and  soon  managing  to 
get  the  blunderbuss  against  his  enemy's  shoulder,  fired  it,  .'illing  the 
wretch's  arm  and  side  with  buckshot.  Freed  from  his  adversary,  the 
gallant  captain  cut  down  with  a  blow  of  his  cutlass  the  second  prize 
officer,  who  was  advancing  upon  him ;  and  the  third,  seeing  his  two  com- 
panions lying,  drenched  with  blood,  upon  the  deck,  ran  below.  In  the 
mean  time  the  crew,  startled  from  their  dinner  by  the  report  of  the  blun- 
derbuss, had  rushed  below  for  their  weapons  ;  but  the  last  man  had  hardly 
dived  down  the  hatchway  when  the  wily  carpenter  and  boatswain  rushed 
forward,  clapped  on  the  hatches,  and  in  a  trice  had  the  British  sailors 
nicely  cooped  up  in  the  forecastle.  The  two  wounded  officers  were  quickly 
cared  for,  and  the  unhurt  fugitive  secured ;  and  Barney  found  himself 
again  in  control  of  the  ship. 

The  victors  then  held  a  consultation  as  to  their  future  action.  They 
controlled  the  ship,  it  was  true ;  but  what  were  three  men  to  do  with  a 
full-rigged  ship  on  the  stormy  Atlantic?  Clearly  they  must  get  aid  from 
their  captives,  or  all  might  go  to  the  bottom  together.  Accordingly  the 
three,  with  loaded  weapons,  went  forward,  and  standing  at  the  hatchway, 


24 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


proposed  terms  to  the  imprisoned  sailors  below.     Capt.  Barney  acted  as 
spokesman. 

"You  shall  be  released  from  confinement,"  cried  he  to  the  captives. 


BARNEY  REGAINS  HIS  SHIP. 


"and  may  now  come  on   deck  one  at  a  time,   each   one   bringing  his 
weapons  with  him." 

The  hatches  were  then  thrown  back,   and  the   carpenter  and   boat- 
swain stood  with  cutlasses  and  muskets  ready  to  cut  down  the  first  who 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


25 


should  make  an  offensive  movement.  The  British  saw  the  preparations 
for  their  reception,  and  came  up  one  at  a  time  as  ordered.  As  each 
came  up,  his  arms  were  seized  and  thrown  overboard,  and  a  grutf  order 
given  for  him  to  go  forward.  Before  long  the  crew,  deprived  of  all  means 
of  resistance,  were  gathered  on  the  forecastle.  Barney  then  retired  to 
the  quarter-deck,  and  ordered  that  the  crew  be  mustered  before  him. 

"  You  are  now  my  prisoners,"  said  he  ;  "  and  I  have  not  only  the 
power,  but  the  right,  to  hang  every  man  jack  of  you.  You  seized  this 
vessel  without  any  just  cause,  and  simply  because  you  were  the  stronger ; 
and  you  have  further  used  that  strength  to  abuse  and  ill-treat  me  and 
waste  my  property.  I  do  not  propose  to  execute  you,  but  will  give  you 
the  choice  of  two  alternatives.  You  may  either  stay  with  me  and  work 
this  ship  to  Baltimore,  there  to  be  discharged  with  wages ;  or  I  will  give 
you  a  small  boat  with  provisions,  and  set  you  adrift  to  shift  for  your- 
selves. One  condition  I  attach  to  the  first  alternative.  If  one  of  you  is 
seen  talking  with  his  former  officers,  or  if  one  man  steps  abaft  the  main- 
mast, he  shall  be  instantly  shot." 

The  crew  wasted  no  time  in  deliberation,  but  decided  to  stay  with 
the  ship,  and  at  once  went  forward  on  duty.  Then  began  a  fortnight 
of  ceaseless  watchfulness  and  grave  anxiety  for  Capt.  Barney.  At  night 
he  never  closed  his  eyes,  but  took  his  sleep  by  day  in  an  armchair  on 
deck,  his  blunderbuss  and  cutlass  by  his  side,  and  a  sentinel  ready  to 
awaken  him  at  the  slightest  alarm.  At  last,  however,  he  brought  his 
ship  safely  to  Baltimore,  and  discharged  his  crew.  But  the  memory  of 
that  month  of  violence  remained  with  him  ;  and  we  shall  hear  of  him 
again  as  a  brave  sailor  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  an  uncom- 
promising foe  to  England. 

Among  the  most  adventurous  of  American  merchant  seamen  in  the 
days  following  the  Revolution  was  Capt.  Thomas  Macdonough.  Like 
others  of  his  class,  his  daring  and  ability  as  a  navigator  gained  him  a 
g  commission  in  the  very  small  American  navy  of  that  time.  On  one 
occasion  the  United  States  ship  "Siren,"  of  which  he  was  first  lieu- 
tenant, was  lying  at  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Gibraltar,  surrounded  by  a 


26 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


number  of  merchantmen,  from  the  peak  of  one  of  which  floated  che  stars 
and  stripes.  While  pacing  the  deck  one  bright  afternoon,  Macdonough 
observed  a  boat  manned  with  armed  men  put  off  from  a  British  man- 
of-war  that  rode  at  anchor  a  mile  away.  At  once  his  suspicions  were 
aroused,  and  with  a  strong  glass  he  watched  the  movements  of  the  Brit- 
ish. As  he  had  expected,  the  boat  steered  straight  for  the  American 
merchantman;  and  through  his  glass  Macdonough  could  see  the  boarders 
scramble  over  the  bulwarks  of  the  vessel,  and  soon  thereafter  return  to 
their  boat,  taking  with  them  1  man  dressed  in  the  garb  of  a  merchant 
seaman,  and  tightly  bound. 

The  captain  of  the  "  Siren  "  was  on  shore ;  and  Macdonough,  as  the 
officer  in  command,  determined  that  so  audacious  an  impressment  should 
not  succeed  under  the  guns  of  an  American  war-vessel,  small  though  she 
might  be. 

"Clear  away  the  long-boat,"  he  shouted;  and  the  boat  quickly  was 
lowered  to  the  water,  and  a  dozen  jackies  grasped  the  oars.  Macdonough 
sprung  into  the  stern-sheets,  and  grasped  the  tiller. 

"  Let  fall !  Give  way  !  Pull  hard,  men ! "  He  gave  the  orders  in 
quick  succession,  and  laid  his  course  straight  for  the  British  boat,  which 
was  soon  overtaken  He  laid  his  boat  alongside  the  British  cutter,  and 
demanded  that  the  captive  be  given  up.  The  English  officer  began  to 
protest,  but  Macdonough  cut  his  protests  short. 

"You  have  no  right  to  that  man.  He  is  an  American  sailor, — Tumble 
in  here,  my  man." 

The  pressed  man,  delighted  with  the  prospect  of  rescue,  sprang  into 
the  American  boat;  and  before  the  British  officer  had  recovered  from  his 
amazement  sufficiently  to  offer  resistance,  the  blue-jackets  were  pulling 
away  toward  the  "  Siren,"  with  the  long,  swinging,  man-o'-war  stroke. 
When  he  reached  his  vessel,  Macdonough  retired  to  his  cabin  to  await 
further  developments,  which  were  not  long  in  appearing. 

"  Boat  from  the  British  frigate  heading  for  the  ship,  sir,"  reported  the 
officer  of  the  deck,  in  a  few  minutes. 

"Very  good,  sir.     Have  the  gangway  manned,"  returned  the  lieutenant. 


BLUE-JACKP:TS  of   iSh. 


a; 


The  boat  was  soon  alongside  ;  and  the  British  captain,  white  with 
rage,   leaped   to  the  gangway,   and  was  shown   to   Lieut.    Macdonough's 

cabin. 

"How  dare  you  take  a  man  from  a  boat  of  his  Majesty's  ship,  sir.'" 

was  his  salutation. 

"  •  Dare '  is  not  a  word  to  be  spoken  to  an  officer  of  the  United  States 
navy,"  responded  Macdonough.  "As  for  the  man,  he  is  a  citizen  oi  the 
United  States;  and  I  propose  to  protect  him,  at  all  hazards." 

"I'll  bring  my  frigate  alongside,  and  sink  your  beggarly  little  craft," 
shoutM  the  visitor,  with  a  volley  of  oaths. 

"  That  you  may  do,"  responded  the  American ;  "  but  while  she  swims, 
the  man  you  shall  not  have." 

"You  are  a  hair-brained  young  fellow,  and  will  repent  this  rashness," 
cried  the  irate  Briton.  "  Do  you  mean  to  say,  that,  if  I  had  been  in  that 
boat,  you  would  have  dared  to  commit  such  an  act .' " 

"  I  should  have  made  the  attempt,  sir,  at  all  hazards." 

"  What,  sir !  "  shouted  the  captain,  greatly  enraged,  "  would  you  venture 
to  interfere,  if  I  should  now  impress  men  from  that  brig.'" 

"  You  have  but  to  try  it,  sir,"  was  the  pithy  response.  And  the  British 
captain  ret'uned  to  his  frigate,  vowing  all  sorts  of  vengeance,  but  never- 
theless did  not  again  annoy  the  American  ship. 

While  the  popular  clamor  against  the  hateful  right  of  search  was  still 
at  its  height  in  America,  Great  Britain  unwisely  added  yet  another  out- 
rage to  the  already  long  list  of  grievances  complained  of  by  the  Americans. 
Notwithstanding  the  danger  of  Barbary  pirates  and  British  impressment, 
the  merchants  of  the  United  States  were  carrying  on  a  thriving  trade 
with  France.  England,  then  at  war  with  the  great  Napoleon,  looked  upon 
this  commerce  at  first  with  disfavor,  and  finally  with  such  intense  hatred 
that  she  determined  to  put  an  end  to  it  altogether.  Accordingly,  she 
issued  the  celebrated  "Orders  in  Council,"  forbidding  all  traffic  with 
French  ports.  For  such  action  the  imperious  nation  had  no  authority  by 
any  principle  of  international  law.  Her  blockade  of  the  French  ports  was 
very  imperfect,  and  easily  evaded.     Readers  of  the  "  Blue-Jackets  of  '6i " 


28 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


will  recollect  the  principle  there  stated,  that  a  blockade,  to  be  legal,  must 
bi  complete  and  effective;  otherwise,  it  is  known  a&  a  "paper  blockade," 
and  neutral  vessels  are  justified  in  attempting  to  evade  it.  Instead  of 
posting  blockading  vessels  at  the  entrances  of  French  ports,  to  warn  off 
all  vessels,  Great  Britain  contented  herself  with  licensing  .hordes  of  pri- 
vateers, that  roamed  the  seas  and  snapped  up  vessels  with  little  regard 
to  law  or  justice.  Hundreds  of  American  vessels  were  thus  captured ; 
for  our  trade  with  France  and  the  French  West  Indian  colonies  at  that 
time  was  of  vast  proportions.  The  ocean  soon  became  so  infested  with 
privateers  that  every  American  merchantman  carried  cannon,  and  an  array 
of  small-arms  that  would  have  done  credit  to  a  sloop-of-war.  The  New 
England  sailors  became  able  naval  fighters,  as  well  as  experienced  seamen ; 
for  a  man  shipping  for  a  voyage  knew  well  that,  in  addition  to  battling 
with  the  angry  elements,  he  might  be  required  to  sight  truly  the  great 
"long  Tom,"  or  beat  back  piratical  boarders  at  the  muzzle  of  the  muskets. 
But  even  these  heroic  remedies  could  not  save  many  a  good  ship. 

Occurrences  such  as  these  fanned  into  flaming  fury  the  smouldering 
fires  of  the  American  hatred  for  Great  Britain.  The  people  saw  their 
old  oppressor  and  enemy  engaged  in  war  with  their  old  ally  France,  and 
the  popular  cry  went  up  for  a  union  of  France  and  the  United  States 
against  England.  Happily,  the  statesmen  of  the  time  —  Washington, 
Hamilton,  and  Jay  —  were  too  firm  of  purpose,  and  too  clear-sighted,  to 
be  led  away  by  popular  clamor ;  and  they  wisely  kept  the  United  States 
Government  in  a  position  of  neutrality  between  the  two  nations.  Deep 
and  loud  were  the  murmurs  of  the  people  at  this  action.  Could  true- 
hearted  Americans  desert  their  friends  in  such  a  manner  ?  Never !  And 
so,  whatever  might  be  the  policy  of  the  rulers,  the  many-headed  people 
welcomed  French  ambassadors,  f^ted  the  officers  of  visiting  men-of-war, 
'  and  hung  the  tri-color  and  the  stars  and  stripes  side  by  side  on  all  public 
holidays. 

It  was  in  1795,  while  the  popular  affection  for  France  was  at  its 
height,  that  a  merchant-vessel  flying  the  British  flag  sailed  into  Boston 
Harbor,  and  made  fast  to  the   Long  Wharf.     Under  her  stern  appeared 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


29 


the  legend,  "  The  Betsy  of  St.  Croix ; "  her  decks  were  littered  with  poultry 
and  domestic  animals,  her  cordage  flapped  loosely  in  the  breeze,  and  every 
thing  about  her  bespoke  the  merchant-vessel.  Her  captain,  being  hailed 
by  the  dock-loafers,  and  made  the  victim  of  the  proverbial  Yankee 
inquisitiveness,  stated  that  he  had  just  come  from  the  West  Indies  with 
a  load  of  lignum-vitae,  pineapples,  and  hides,  which  he  hoped  to  sell  in 
Boston.  The  self-constituted  investigating  committee  seemed  satisfied, 
and  the  captain  strolled  on  into  the  city. 

But  the  French  consul  at  Boston  was  far  from  satisfied,  and  he  took 
care  to  let  his  suspicions  become  generally  known.  "  That  innocent- 
looking  merchantman  is  a  British  privateer,"  quoth  he ;  "  and  it's  a  shame 
to  harbor  her  in  the  good  port  of  Boston,  amid  French-loving  people." 
The  consul's  Words  spread  like  wildfire ;  and  his  suspicions  soon  passed 
for  facts,  without  any  supporting  proof.  No  one  knows  who  was  the  writer, 
or  who  the  printer ;  but  in  a  few  hours  the  people  upon  the  streets  had 
thrust  into  their  hands  the  following  handbill :  — 


THIS   NIGHT 

Will  be  performed  at  the  steps  bottom  of 
Long  Wharf 

A    COMEDY 

of  stripping  the 
BERMUDIAN   PRIVATEER. 


CITIZENS.  Remember  th.re  have  been 
near  three  hundred  of  our  American  vessels 
take*^  by  these  Bermudians,  and  have  received 
vhe  most  barbarous  treatment  fiom  those 
DaiTin-d  PIRATES  1 1  i 

Now,  Americans,  if  you  feel  the  spirit  of 
resentment  or  revenge  kindling  in  your  hearts, 
let  us  be  united  in  the  cause. 


1 


30 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


This  was  enough  to  rouse  the  turbulent  people  of  Boston  to  action. 
They  well  remembered  the  winter's  night,  twenty-two  years  before,  when 
their  harbor  was  the  scene  of  the  first  protest  against  the  oppression  of 
Great  Britain.  Then  they  threw  overboard  the  tea,  and  spared  the  ships ; 
this  time  ship  and  cargo  alike  should  be  destroyed.  When  night  fell, 
small  bodies  of  men  could  be  seen  marching  down  to  the  wharfs,  through 
the  narrow,  crooked  streets  of  the  old  town.  Before  eight  o'clock  Long 
Wharf  was  crowded  with  an  angry  mob.  On  the  deck  of  the  threatened 
vessel  stood  the  captain,  arguing  and  pleading  with  the  crowd,  and  at 
times  pointing  to  the  scarlet  flag  above  his  head,  and  threatening  his 
assailants  with  the  wrath  of  mighty  England.  Argument,  entreaty,  and 
threats  proved  unavailing ;  and  the  crowd,  gaining  courage  with  numbers, 
rushed  upon  the  vessel,  and  ordered  captain  and  crew  ashore.  Lea\'ing 
the  scene,  the  captain  rushed  wildly  into  the  city  in  search  of  the  British 
consul  ;  and,  in  his  absence,  the  mob  began  to  search  his  ship.  An  active 
and  careful  search  soon  brought  to  light  in  an  out-of-the-way  corner  of 
the  hold  two  swivel-guns,  two  three-pounders,  forty  charges  of  shot, 
fifteen  pounds  of  powder,  and  eight  muskets.  All  was  piled  upon  the 
deck,  and  pointed  out  to  the  captain  on  his  return,  amid  frantic  yells 
from  the  enraged  populace.  He  solemnly  protested  that  the  f^rdnance 
was  only  intended  for  purposes  of  defence  against  the  pirates  that  in- 
fested the  Bermudas.  But  the  case  was  already  judged.  The  people 
laughed  at  the  captain's  declarations  ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  "  Betsy," 
a  mass  of  flame,  was  drifting  across  the  harbor  to  the  Charlestown  beach. 
There  she  blazed  away,  while  the  crowd  watched  the  bonfire  from  the 
dock,  until  the  last  timbers  of  the  ship  fell  with  a  hiss  into  the  black 
waters,  and  all  was  dark  again. 

Popular  sympathy  is  at  best  but  an  unstable  sentiment,  and  so  it 
proved  with  this  unreasoning  affection  of  the  American  people  for  France. 
Firmly  the  American  authorities  held  to  their  policy  of  neutrality,  refusing 
to  be  influenced  in  the  slightest  degree  by  the  popular  clamor  of  the 
people  for  an  alliance  with  France.  Then  the  French  sympathizers  made 
their  fatal  error.     In  the  presidential  chair  of  the  United  States  sat  Wash- 


-mw 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


33 


\ 


in'i'ton,  the  hero  of  the  Revolution.  Rashly  the  French  minister  and  his 
following  began  an  onslaught  upon  this  great  and  wise  man,  because  of 
his  firm  determination  to  keep  the  United  States  neutral.  They  accused 
him  of  being  an  "aristocrat ;"  of  wishing  to  found  an  hereditary  monarchy, 
with  himself  at  the  head.  No  epithet  was  too  vile  for  them  to  apply  to 
him:  "liar"  and  "traitor"  were  terms  freely  applied  to  him  whom  we 
regard  as  the  veritable  founder  of  our  free  Republic.  Such  intemperate 
and  unreasoning  malice  as  this  had  a  very  different  effect  from  what 
was  intended  by  the  French  sympathizers,  or  Republicans  as  the  party  was 
tlii-n  termed.  The  party  supporting  the  President  gained  strength  and 
influence,  even  while  the  actions  of  Napoleon  and  the  French  Chamber 
of  Deputies  were  giving  American  seamen  the  same  grounds  of  complaint 
as  those  which  Great  Britain  had  so  long  forced  upon  them. 

It  was  during  the  last  year  of  the  administration  of  Washington,  that 
tlie  French  Directory  issued  secret  orders  to  the  commanders  of  all 
iMcnch  men-of-war,  directing  them  to  treat  neutral  vessels  in  the  same 
manner  as  they  had  suffered  the  English  to  treat  them.  The  cunning 
intent  of  this  order  is  apparent  by  its  wording :  "Treat  American  vessels 
as  tlicy  suffer  themselves  to  be  treated  by  the  British."  What  course 
(Iocs  that  leave  open  to  the  Americans,  save  to  resist  the  British,  thereby 
become  involved  in  a  war,  and  so  aid  France  ?  But  there  was  one  other 
alternative ;  and,  much  to  the  surprise  and  chagrin  of  the  French,  the 
Americans  adopted  it..  And  the  only  effect  of  the  diplomatic  secret  order 
was  to  embroil  France  in  a  naval  war  with  the  United  States. 

The  condition  of  American  commerce,  after  the  promulgation  of  the 
French  decree,  became  deplorable  indeed.  A  merchant-vessel  flying  the ' 
American  flag  was  never  safe  unless  under  the  guns  of  an  American 
war-vessel ;  and  the  reduction  of  the  navy  had  made  these  few  indeed. 
Should  the  brig  "  Nancy "  or  "  Sarah  Jane  "  put  out  from  the  little  port 
of  Salem  or  New  London,  she  was  certain  to  be  overhauled  by  some 
B'itish  frigate,  whose  boarding  officer  would  pick  from  the  brig's  crew  a 
few  able  sailors,  and  leave  her  to  make  her  way  short-handed  as  best  she 
might.    Next  would  come  along  some  French  frigate  or  privateer,  —  some 


J 


mmmmr 


34 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


"Terreur,"  "  Incroyable,"  or  "  Insurgente," — whose  astute  officers  would 
quickly  notice  the  gaps  in  the  American  crew,  and,  finding  out  that  the 
brig  had  been  boarded  by  the  English,  would  declare  her  a  prize  for 
having  given  aid  to  the  enemies  of  /a  belle  France.  Should  the  little 
brig  be  so  fortunate  as  to  escape  the  civilized  belligerents,  there  were  still 
the  pirates  of  Tripoli,  the  picaroons  of  the  French  Weft  Indies,  and  the 
unauthorized  and  irresponsible  pirates,  who,  with  forged  commissions  and 
flying  the  Spanish  or  Portuguese  colors,  ravaged  the  seas  in  all  directions. 
The  career  of  an  American  merchantman  at  that  time  is  admirably  told 
by  our  great  novelist  Fenimore  Cooper  in  his  sea-tale  of  "  Miles  Walling- 
ford."  The  fate  of  the  good  brig  "Dawn"  was  the  fate  of  too  many  an 
American  vessel  in  those  turbulent  times  ;  and  the  wondrous  literary  art 
with  which  the  novelist  has  expanded  the  meagre  records  of  the  times 
into  an  historical  novel  of  surpassing  interest  makes  an  acquaintance  with 
the  book  essentia!  to  a  ^jioper  knowledge  of  American  naval  history. 

The  first  act  of  retaliation  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  was  the 
embargo  ordered  by  Congress,  "'hich  prohibited  any  vessel  from  leaving 
American  ports.  This  action  huvi  two  effects.  It  quickly  brought  about 
great  distress  in  European  countries,  which  even  then  relied  much  on 
the  United  States  for  food.  This  was  the  chief  object  of  the  embargo. 
The  second  effect  was  inevitable.  The  sudden  check  upon  all  foreign 
commerce  plunged  business  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States  into  stag- 
nation. Sailors  out  of  work  thronged  the  streets  of  the  seaport  towns. 
Farmers  trudged  weary  miles  beside  their  ox-teams,  only  to  find,  when 
they  had  hauled  their  produce  to  town,  that  there  was  no  market  for  it. 
Along  the  docks  the  ships  lay  idly  tugging  at  their  cables,  or  stranded 
on  the  flats  as  the  tide  went  out.  Merchants  discharged  their  clerks, 
and  great  warehouses  were  locked  up  and  deserted.  For  nearly  a  year 
the  ports  were  closed,  and  commerce  thus  languished.  Then  Congress 
substituted  for  the  embargo  the  Non-intercourse  Act,  which  simply  pro- 
hibited commerce  with  France  and  England  ;  and  again  the  American 
flag  appeared  upon  the  ocean.  But  the  two  warring  nations  had  learned 
neither  wisdom  nor  justice,  and  began  again  their  depredations  upon  the 


BLUE-JACKKTS  OF    1812. 


35 


iinotfciuling  Americans.  Envoys  were  sent  to  France  to  protest  against 
the  outrageous  action  of  that  nation ;  but  they  were  told  that  no  audience 
could  be  granted  them,  unless  they  paid  into  the  French  treasury  two 
hundred  and  forty  thousand  dollars.  This  last  insult  was  too  great.  The 
envoys  returned  home,  told  of  their  treatment,  and  the  war  party  in 
the  United  States  rallied  to  the  defence  of  their  nation's  honor,  shouting 
Pinckney's  noble  sentiment,  "Millions  for  defence,  but  not  one  cent  for 
tribute'' 


WAR  WITH  FRANCE.  — THE  BUILDING  OF  A  NAVY.  — FIRST  .SUCCESS  FOR  THE  AMERICANS.— 
CUTTING  OUT  THE  "  SANDWICH." -THE  "CONSTELLATION"  AND  "  L'INSURGENTE."  — THE 
"CONSTELLATION"  AND  "LA   VENGEANCE." 


HILE  France  and  England  were  waging  a  desperate  and  bloody 
,y.||-^  war,  the  United  States  was  like  a  shuttlecock,  being  struck 
iri^uiC  repeatedly  by  the  diplomatic  battledores  of  each  nation.  Be- 
tween the  British  "  Orders  in  Council "  and  the  French  "  Milan 
Decree,"  American  commerce  was  in  a  fair  way  of  being  obliterated.  To 
declare  war  against  both  nations,  would  have  been  absurd  in  so  young  a 
people  ;  and  for  months,  and  even  years,  the  fierce  contests  of  political 
parties  in  the  United  States  made  a  declaration  of  war  against  either 
aggressor  impracticable.  Now  the  Franco-maniacs  were  in  the  ascend- 
ency, and  the  country  rang  with  praises  of  France,  —  the  nation  which 
had  cast  off  aristocrats,  and,  like  America,  was  devoted  to  republican 
principles  ;  the  nation  which  had  aided  the  Colonies  in  their  war  for 
freedom.  What  though  a  French  privateer  did  occasionally  seize  an 
American  ship.!*  The  Americans  alone  were  to  blame  for  that;  for  was. 
36 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


•1 


^ 


not  their  attitude  toward  England,  their  natural  foe,  enough  to  inflame 
the  French?  And  were  not  the  British  aggressions  more  oppressive  than 
those  of  France  ?  War  there  must  be,  but  let  it  be  declared  against  the 
hated  Ikitish. 

Such  were  the  sentiments  of  the  French  sympathizers,  or  Democrats 
as  they  were  then  termed  in  political  parlance.  But  the  English  sym- 
pathizers, or  Federalists,  held  very  different  opinions.  They  made  no 
attempt  to  excuse  the  offensive  attitude  assumed  by  England,  but  claimed 
that  so  soon  as  her  war  with  P'rance  was  over  she  \  .'uld  admit  the  injus- 
tice of  her  actions,  and  make  due  reparation  for  the  injuries  she  had 
heaped  upon  American  commerce.  But  they  pointed  out  that  for  one 
vessel  taken  by  Flngland,  ten  were  seized  by  French  privateers,  or  pirati- 
cal vessels  of  nondescript  nationality,  but  bearing  French  papers.  As 
for  France  loving  republican  principles,  her  republicanism  was  founded 
upon  blood  and  the  guillotine.  She  was  no  longer  the  nation  that  had 
aided  the  struggling  Colonies.  She  was  the  nation  that  had  foully  mur- 
dered the  kind  king  who  had  lent  that  aid  two  decades  before.  Besides 
these  arguments,  the  Federalists  did  not  scruple  to  hint,  that,  in  a  second 
war  with  England,  the  United  States  might  lose  the  independence  so 
recently  won,  while  the  navy  of  France  was  not  so  greatly  to  be  dreaded. 

Indeed,  the  American  people  of  that  day  might  well  be  excused  for 
lethargy  in  resenting  the  insults  of  any  first-class  naval  power.  It  is 
not  too  strong  a  statement,  to  say  that  at  this  time,  when  the  need  was 
greatest,  the  United  States  had  no  navy.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, the  navy  had  been  disbanded,  the  ships  sold,  and  the  officers  dis- 
persed among  the  vessels  of  the  merchant  marine.  This  fact  alone  is 
enough  to  account  for  the  depredations  of  F'rench,  English,  Portuguese, 
Tripolitans,  and  the  hordes  of  pirates  without  a  country.  Is  there  no 
lesson  in  this }  Does  history  teach  no  wisdom  to  a  nation,  that  we,  in 
the  luxuriance  of  peace  after  our  dreadful  civil  war,  should  again  allow 
•nir  navy  to  fall  into  decay,  until  a  Yankee  blue-jacket  is  to-day  almost 
as  rare  a  sight  in  a  foreign  port  as  it  was  in   1794.' 

But  the  depredations  of  the  enemies  of   American   commerce  at  last 


I! 


38 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


'i 
I 

s 


'i 


reached  such  a  point  that  Congress  could  no  longer  overlook  the  neces- 
sity for  an  American  navy.  In  March,  1794,  Congress,  after  listening  to 
a  message  from  the  President  detailing  the  depredations  of  the  Algerines, 
passed  an  Act  authorizing  the  construction  or  purchase  of  six  frigates,  or 
an  equivalent  naval  force.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  present  United 
States  navy ;  for  some  of  the  frigates  built  under  that  law  are  still  afloat, 
although  no  longer  exposed  to  the  rude  shocks  of  battle  or  the  still  more 
violent  onslaughts  of  the  mighty  ocean. 

In  accordance  with  the  law,  the  frames  of  six  frigates  were  quickly 
laid  upon  the  stocks  at  six  different  ship-yards ;  and  even  while  the  ribs 
were  yet  uncovered,  commanders  were  selected  for  the  unbuilt  ships. 
The  names  of  ships  and  officers  alike  are  famous  in  American  annals, 
and  may  well  be  mentioned  here.  The  "  Constitution,"  "  President," 
"  United  States,"  "  Chesapeake,"  "  Constellation,"  and  "  Congress"  were 
the  vessels  begun  at  this  time  ;  and  the  rolls  of  no  navy  of  the  world 
ever  bore  six  more  famous  names.  The  captains  chosen  were  John  Barry, 
Samuel  Nicholson,  Silas  Talbot,  Joshua  Barney,  Richard  Dale,  and  Thomas 
Truxton.  Of  these,  all  save  Truxton  had  served  the  Colonies  in  the  Rev- 
olution. Barney  narrowly  escaped  being  totally  disowned  by  his  country, 
because  while  holding  a  commission  in  the  French  navy  he  had  once 
accidentally  hoisted  the  American  flag  upside  down.  A  cry  went  up 
from  his  enemies,  that  it  was  an  intentional  insult  to  the  country  ;  but 
his  friends,  with  justice,  pleaded  that  the  flag  had  been  wet,  and  a  sailor, 
running  it  up  to  dry,  had  thus  carelessly  inverted  it. 

In  the  mean  time  the  building  of  the  ships  went  merrily  on,  until, 
when  they  were  nearly  finished,  a  disgraceful  treaty  was  made  with 
Algiers,  and  work  on  the  new  navy  was  neglected,  and  three  of  the 
unfinished  ships  sold.  But  in  1797  the  French  depredations  became  so 
unbearable  that  work  was  hastened ;  and  cities  and  towns,  not  satisfied 
with  the  three  frigates  provided  for,  began  collecting  subscriptions  for 
the  purchase  of  ships,  to  be  presented  to  the  Government.  The  first 
of  the  frigates  building  by  the  Government  to  reach  the  water  was  the 
"United  States."     As  the  first  vessel   built  by  the  United   States   under 


II 


BLUE-JACKK'IS   OF    1812. 


39 


the  Constitution,  her  launch  was  an  event  to  be  celebrated.  At  noon 
on  the  bright  May  afternoon  chosen,  the  streets  of  Philadelphia  leading 
to  the  ship-yard,  where  the  hull  of  the  great  frigate  lay  upon  the  stocks, 
were  thronged  with  holiday-making  people.  The  sun  had  hardly  risen, 
when  anxious  spectators  began  to  seize  upon  the  best  points  of  observa- 
tion about  the  ship-yard.  The  hour  of  the  launch  was  set  at  one  p.m.  ; 
and  for  hours  before  the  crowd  of  watchers  sung  patriotic  songs,  cheered 
for  Congress  and   the   new  navy,  and   anxiously  debated   the   chances   of 


/-- 


f  rlMf" 


TOASTING  THE  WOODEN   WALLS  OK  COLUMBIA. 


a  successful  launch.  The  river  was  covered  with  pleasure-craft,  decked 
witli  flags,  and  bright  with  the  gay  dresses  of  ladies.  The  great  frigate, 
too,  was  a  mass  of  bunting  from  stem  to  stern.  At  one  precisely,  the 
blows  of  many  hammers  were  heard  knocking  out  the  blocks  ;  and,  after  a 
moment's  trembling  pause,  the  first  United  States  frijrnte  glided  swiftly 
into  the  water,  and,  after  a  graceful  dip,  rode  buoyant i\  •r:\  the  placid  sur- 
face of  the  Delaware. 

While  the  ships  were  building,  the  war-feeling  against  France  was 
steadily  growing,  and  the  enthusiasm  of  the  people  over  the  infant  navy 
knew  no  bounds.     Toasts   to   the  "wooden  walls  of   Columbia,"  and   the 


40 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


"rising  navy  of  America,"  were  drunk  with  cheers  at  stately  public  ban- 
quets, and  by  bands  of  jolly  roisterers  at  tap-houses.  The  patriotic  song 
writer  invaded  the  columns  of  the  newspapers  ;  and,  as  these  could  not 
afford  space  for  all  the  poetic  effusions,  they  were  printed  on  broadsides, 
and  hawked  about  the  streets.  At  Harvard  College  the  students  nmde 
the  chapel  walls  ring  with  the  ode  written  by  Joseph  Story :  — 

"Shall  Gallia's  clan  our  coast  invade, 
With  hellish  outrage  scourge  the  main, 
Insult  our  nation's  neutral  trade, 
And  we  not  dare  our  rights  maintain  ? 
Rise,  united  Harvard's  band, 
Rise,  the  bulwark  of  our  land." 

Admirable  as  may  be  the  patriotism  of  this  ode,  the  poetry  is  not 
above  criticism  ;  but  it  is  classic  in  comparison  with  many  others.  The 
following  stanza  and  chorus  will  show  the  character  of  one  of  the  most 
popular  street-songs  of  the  day :  — 

"Americans,  tlien  fly  to  arms, 
And  learn  the  way  to  use  'em. 
If  each  man  fights  to  'fend  his  rights. 
The  French  can't  long  abuse  'em. 

Yankee  Doodle  (mind  the  tune), 

Yankee  Doodle  Dandy; 
For  the  French  there's  trouble  brewin': 

We'll  spank  'em,  hand  and  handy." 


il^ 


From  Maine  to  Georgia  the  mania  for  writing  such  doggerel  spread 
with  a  rapidity  only  equalled  by  the  avidity  with  which  the  people  seized 
upon  the  songs,  and  sung  them.  A  complete  collection  of  these  remark- 
able efforts  of  poetic  art  would  form  an  amusing  volume,  and  from  it 
alone  a  history  of  political  movements  in  the  United  States  might  be^ 
written.     That  even  such  wretched  doggerel  had  its  effect  upon  popular 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1S12. 


41 


sentiment,  cannot  be  doubted  ;  for  has  it  not  been  said,  "  I  care  not  who 
makes  the  laws  of  a  nation,  let  mc  but  write  its  songs  "  ? 

Hut  the  manifestation  of  the  growing  ill-feeling  towards  France  was 
not  confined  to  poor  but  harmless  poetizing.  The  first  open  rupture  took 
place  at  Savannah.  In  the  port  of  that  city  were  lying  two  long,  rakish 
.schooners  flying  the  French  tricolor.  Their  decks  were  crowded  with 
men,  whose  rough  actions  and  brutal  countenances  showed  them  to  be 
no  respecters  of  law  or  order.  It  did  not  need  the  rows  of  cannon  pro- 
truding from  the  ports,  nor  the  carefully  covered  "long  Tom;;  '  amid- 
ship.s,  to  indicate  to  the  good  people  of  Savannah  that  their  harbtr 
sheltered  two  French  privateers.  Among  the  seafaring  people  of  the 
city,  the  sight  of  these  two  vessels  aroused  the  greatest  anger.  Were 
they  not  representatives  of  the  nation  whose  ships  were  seizing  and 
burning  American  vessels  in  the  West  Indies  almost  daily .'  Perhaps 
these  very  vessels  were  then  fresh  from  an  action  with  some  American 
ship.  Who  could  tell  that  the  holds  of  the  privateers  did  not  at  that 
very  minute  contain  the  best  part  of  the  cargo  of  some  captured  American 
vessel.'  Probably  the  last  shot  fired  from  that  "long  Tom"  had  crashed 
into  the  side  of  some  little  brig  flying  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  perhaps 
ended  the  career  of  many  an  American  sailor.  P^om  suspicions  and 
conjectures,  positive  statements  soon  grew.  It  was  whispered  about  that 
the  two  privateers  had  recently  plundered  and  burned  a  Yankee  ship 
returning  from  the  West  Indies  with  a  goodly  store  of  specie  in  exchange 
for  her  cargo.  Those  cut-throat-looking  Frenchmen  were  even  then  stained 
with  the  blood  of  true  Americans.  The  money  they  threw  on  the  bars  of 
water-side  dram-shops,  in  exchange  for  the  vile  rum  which  was  the  worst 
enemy  of  too  many  a  good  jack-tar,  was  looked  upon  with  suspicion. 
"What  Yankee's  pockets  did  Johnny  Crapaud  pick  to  get  all  that  money.'" 
growled  the  American  sailors. 

The  Frenchmen  were  not  slow  in  discovering  the  dislike  manifested 
by  the  people  of  Savannah;  and  like  true  soldiers  of  fortune,  as  they 
were,  they  did  nothing  to  make  friends  of  their  enemies.  They  came 
ashore  in  troops  instead  of  singly.     Cutlasses  hung  at  their  sides.     Their 


-i 


h 


f 


!'■ 


42 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    181 2. 


tight  leather  belts  held  many  a  knife  or  clumsy  pistol.  Their  walk  on 
the  street  was  a  reckless  swagger ;  and  a  listener  who  could  understand 
French  could  catch  in  their  loud  conversation  many  a  scornful  sneer  or 
braggart  defiance  of  the  Americans. 

Such  a  state  of  affairs  could  not  loiig  continue.  Each  party  was  ready 
and  waiting  to  fight,  and  it  was  not  hard  to  find  an  excuse.  How  the 
fighting  began,  no  one  ever  knew ;  but  one  night  the  streets  of  the  little 
city  resounded  with  cries  of  rage  and  groans  of  agony  Soon  crowds 
began  to  gather ;  and  sailors  rushed  up  and  down  the  streets,  crying  that 
the  French  desperadoes  had  killed  three  Americans.  The  rage  of  the  popu- 
lace, and  particularly  of  the  seaf'^ring  community,  had  no  bounds.  "  Arm  ! 
arm  !  and  take  bloody  vengeance  upon  the  murderers,"  was  the  cry  in  all 
quarters.  The  mob  blocked  all  the  roadways  leading  to  the  water-front. 
With  cutlasses  and  guns  they  attacked  the  sailors  on  "  L' Agile,"  which 
lay  at  a  wharf,  and  drove  them  overboard.  Once  in  possession  of  the 
ship,  the  enraged  rioters  vented  their  fury  by  cutting  away  the  masts 
and  rigging,  tearing  to  pieces  the  woodwork  of  the  cabin,  and  finally 
l)utting  Uie  torch  to  the  battered  bulk,  and  sending  her  drifting  help- 
lessly down  the  river.  This  summary  vengeance  did  not  satisfy  their 
anger.  They  looked  about  them  for  the  other  vessel,  "  La  Vengeance," 
antl  discovered  that  she  had  been  towed  away  from  the  shore,  and  was 
being  warped  up  stream  to  a  place  of  safety.  Boats  were  secured,  and 
the  irresistible  mob  set  out  in  mad  pursuit.  A  militia  company,  hastily 
sent  to  the  scene  of  action  by  the  authorities  of  the  town,  failed  to  check 
the  riot;  and,  after  a  futile  struggle  on  the  part  of  her  crew,  "La  Ven- 
geance "  shared  the  fate  of  her  consort.  Sympathy  for  France  was  well 
rooted  out  of  Savannah  then,  and  the  cry  of  the  city  was  for  war. 

Helore  the  news  of  the  uprising  at  Savannah  was  known  in  New 
England,  the  navy  had  struck  the  first  blow  against  French  oppression, 
and  the  vic*^ory  had  rested  with  the  sailors  of  the  United  States.  Con- 
gress had  at  last  been  aroused  to  a  sense  of  the  situation,  and  had 
issued  orders  to  captains  of  American  war-vessels,  directing  them  to 
capture  French  cruisers  wherever  found.     A  number  of   large  merchant- 


lil 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


43 


vessels  and  India-men  had  been  armed  hastily,  and  sent  out ;  and  at  last 
the  country  had  a  navy  on  the  seas.  One  of  the  first  vessels  to  get 
away  was  the  "  Delaware,"  a  twenty-gun  ship,  commanded  by  Stephen 
Decatur  the  elder.  Decatur  had  been  out  but  a  few  days  when  a 
merchantman,  the  "  Alexander  Hamilton,"  was  sighted,  from  the  halliards 
of  which  a  flag  of  distress  was  flying.  The  "  Delaware  "  ran  toward  the 
vessel,  and  sent  a  boat  aboard,  which  returned,  bringing  the  captain  of 
the  distressed  craft.  To  Decatur  the  captain  related  the  old  story  of  French 
aggression,  which  had  become  so  hateful,  Only  the  day  before,  he  said, 
his  ship  had  been  boarded  by  boats'-crews  from  a  French  privateer  of 
twenty  guns.  The  assailants,  once  on  board,  had  eaten  his  provisions, 
and  plundered  his  cargo  without  scruple.  He  gave  careful  directions  as 
to  the  course  of  the  privateer  after  leaving  the  "Alexander  Hamilton," 
and  returned  to  his  ship  happy  in  the  thought,  that,  though  he  could  not 
regain  his  plundered  property,  the  thieves  at  least  would  be  punished. 

Decatur  crowded  on  all  sail,  and  set  off  in  pursuit  of  the  oppressor. 
Four  hours  later,  the  lookout  forward  reported  four  schooners  in  sight  off 
the  bow.  For  a  moment  the  captain  was  puzzled,  as  he  had  no  means 
of  knowing  'vhich  was  the  guilty  privateer  ;  but,  after  brief  deliberation, 
he  determined  to  adopt  strategy.  The  rigging  of  his  vessel  wa.-.  slackened, 
the  yards  slewed  round,  and  every  attempt  made  to  transform  the  trim 
man-o'-war  into  a  shiftless  merchantman.  Then  the  helmsman  was  in- 
structed to  carefully  avoid  running  near  the  suspected  schooners.  The 
ruse  succeeded  admirably.  The  lookouts  in  the  tops  of  the  schooners 
reported  an  American  merchantman  in  sight,  but  making  attempts  to 
escape.  The  cupidity  of  the  Frenchmen  was  aroused.  In  the  "  Dela- 
ware" they  saw  only  a  defenceless  ship,  from  which,  by  virtue  of  their 
strength,  they  could  take  whatever  plunder  they  desired.  From  the  decks 
of  the  "  Delaware,"  the  sailors  could  see  the  Frenchmen  shaking  out  sail 
after  sail  ;  and  soon  one  schooner,  a  perfect  cloud  of  canvas,  took  the 
lead,  and  left  her  consorts  far  in  the  rear.  It  was  the  privateer  they  were 
after.  The  jackies  of  the  '  Delaware "  clambered  into  the  rigging,  and 
set  all  sail,  with  the  clumsiness  of  merchant-sailors ;  but,  though  the  ship 


i  ! 


44 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


(1 

hi. 


spread  a  large  expanse  of  canvas,  she  was  making  but  little  progress,  for 
two  long  cables  dragged  in  the  water  astern,  holding  her  back.  The 
Frenchman  came  up  gallantly,  but  suddenly  discovered  the  ports  along 
the  side  of  the  "  Delaware,"  and  concluded  he  had  caught  a  Tartar.  It 
was  too  late  to  escape  then  ;  for  the  "  Delaware,"  coming  about,  had  the 
schooner  directly  under  her  guns,  and  the  Frenchman  had  no  course  left 
but  to  surrender.  The  privateer  proved  to  be  "  Le  Croyable,"  of  four- 
teen guns  and  seventy  men.  Her  captain  was  vastly  astounded  to  hear 
that  the  United  States  had  at  last  ""jent  out  cruisers  against  th"  Ti"rench, 
who  had  come  to  look  upon  Americans  as  their  legitimate  prey.  Keeping 
"  Lc  Croyable "  alongside,  Decatur  ran  for  Philadelphia,  where  he  was 
received  with  unbounded  enthusiasm.  The  captured  ship  was  taken  into 
the  United  States  navy,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Retaliation,"  and 
sent,  under  command  of  Lieut.  Bainbridge,  to  cruise  in  search  of  other 
privateers. 

But  the  career  of  the  "  Retaliation "  under  the  American  flag  was 
neither  long  nor  glorious.  Ill  luck  seemed  to  attend  the  vessel  in  all  her 
cruises,  and  Bainbridge  wandered  up  and  down  the  high  seas  without 
getting  within  range  of  a  French  cruiser  or  privateer.  In  November, 
1 798,  the  "  Retaliation  "  was  cruising,  with  two  other  men-of-war,  in  the 
West  Indies,  not  far  from  Guadaloupe.  One  day  three  sails  were  made 
out  to  the  eastward,  and  two  more  to  the  westward.  Bainbridge  thought 
that  at  last  his  opportunity  had  arrived;  and  the  "Retaliation"  set  off 
to  reconnoitre  the  strangers  on  the  eastward,  while  the  two  other  American 
ships  made  after  the  three  sails  in  the  opposite  direction.  As  Bainbridge 
gained  upon  his  chase,  he  concluded  from  their  appearance  that  they  were 
two  English  ships,  and  accordingly  threw  aside  all  caution,  and  sailed 
boldly  alongside.  Unluckily,  they  proved  to  be  hostile  French  cruisers  ; 
and,  when  the  discovery  was  made,  the  "  Retaliation "  was  well  within 
range.  Every  sail  was  set,  and  the  ship  put  before  the  wind,  to  escape 
from  the  enemy,  but  too  late.  The  leading  ship  of  the  enemy  was  a 
fine  frigate ;  and  she  rushed  through  the  water  after  the  fugitive,  like 
a  dolphin  after  a  flying-fish.     Soon  a  heavy  shot  from  one  of  the  frigate's 


1>1S 


(1 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


45 


bow-chasers  came  whizzing  by  the  "  Retaliation,"  unpleasantly  reminding 
the  Americans  that  they  were  still  within  range,  and  their  adversaries 
carried  heavy  metal.  The  second  frigate  soon  opened  fire,  and  the  posi- 
tion of  the  "  Retaliation "  became  hopeless.  Her  flag  was  unwillingly 
hauled  down,  and  the  vessel  became  again  the  property  of  its  original 
owners.  It  is  a  strange  coincidence,  that  this  ship  should  have  thus  been 
the  first  prize  of  both  Americans  and  P'rcnch  in  the  war. 

The  Frenchmen  were  not  content  with  their  success  in  capturing  the 
"  Retaliation  : "  so,  while  one  frigate  stopped  to  secure  the  prize,  the  other 
passed  on  in  hot  chase  after  "  The  Retaliation's "  two  former  consorts, 
the  "  Montezuma "  and  "  Norfolk."  Bainbridge  was  taken  aboard  the 
French  frigate  "  Volontaire,"  which  then  continued  her  course  in  the  wake 
of  her  consort,  the  "  Insurgente."  For  the  captured  American  captain 
on  the  deck  of  the  "Volontaire,"  the  chase  was  one  of  great  excitement. 
He  well  knew  that  the  two  stately  French  frigates  were  much  more  than 
a  match  for  the  flying  Americans ;  and,  should  they  overhaul  the  chase, 
the  "Montezuma"  and  the  "Norfolk"  would  join  the  "Retaliation"  in 
French  captivity.  Racked  with  anxiety  he  paced  the  deck,  trying  in  vain 
not  to  perceive  that  the  pursuers  were  steadily  gaining,  and  chafing  under 
the  position  of  helplessness  in  which  he  found  himself.  But  an  oppor- 
tunity to  help  did  unexpectedly  present  itself.  The  French  captain,  after 
a  long  look  through  his  marine-glasses  at  the  flying  craft,  turned  to 
Bainbridge,  and  inquired, — 

"  What  may  be  the  force  of  your  consorts,  captain } " 
Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  Bainbridge  responded,  — 
"The  ship  carries  twenty-eight  twelve-pounders,  and  the  brig  twenty 
nines." 

The  Frenchman  was  astounded,  as  well  he  might  be ;  for  Bain- 
l)i"i(lge's  answer  was  a  most  preposterous  falsehood,  nearly  doubling  the 
;u  tiial  armament  of  the  two  vessels.  An  eager  consultation  was  imme- 
diately held  by  the  officers  on  the  quarter-deck.  Bainbridge  looked  on 
anxiously,  and  was  delighted  with  the  success  of  his  ruse,  when  he  heard 
oiijers   for  the   hoisting   of   a   signal  which    should   call    back    the   frigate 


46 


HLUl-:-JACKHrS   OF    1812. 


leading  in  the  chase.  The  signal  was  hoisted ;  and  the  "  Insurgente," 
obeying,  abandoned  the  chase,  and  returned.  Pier  captain  was  indignant 
at  his  recall,  and  curious  to  know  the  cause  of  it.  When  told  of  Bain- 
bridge's  statement,  he  was  furious ;  for  his  ship  had  been  close  enough 
to  the  chase  to  see  that  the  Americans  were  small  craft,  utterly  unable  to 
cope  with  the  two  pursuing  frigates.  For  his  falsehood,  Bainbridge  was 
roundly  abused,  and  many  a  French  oath  was  hurled  at  his  head.  His 
action  was  indeed  inexcusable  by  the  rules  of  hone;' ;  and  the  utmost 
that  can  be  said  of  it  by  the  most  patriotic  American  is,  that  by  his 
falsehood  he  .saved  two  good  ships  for  the  infant  navy  of  the  United 
States.  From  a  military  point  of  view,  however,  his  conduct  was  com- 
mendable ;  and  in  recognition  thereof,  on  his  release  from  captivity,  he 
was  made  commander  of  the  "  Norfolk,"  one  of  the  vessels  he  had  saved. 

France  and  the  United  States  were  now  actually  at  war,  although  no 
definite  declaration  of  war  had  been  made  by  either  party.  This  fact 
made  many  French  privateers  assume  an  injured  air,  on  being  captured 
by  United  States  ships,  and  complain  that  they  had  never  heard  of  any 
declaration  of  war.  With  a  Frenchman  of  this  sort,  Stephen  Decatur 
the  younger  had  an  experience  early  in  his  naval  career. 

This  occurred  in  February,  1799.  The  frigate  "United  States"  was 
cruising  near  Martinique  in  that  year,  and  to  her  young  Decatur  was  at- 
tached as  a  sub-lieutenant.  One  morning  a  French  privateer  was  sighted, 
and  the  frigate  set  out  in  hot  pursuit.  The  privateer  took  the  alarm 
quickly,  and  crowtled  on  all  sail,  until  her  long,  narrow  hull  slipped 
tiirough  the  waves  like  a  fish.  The  breeze  was  fresh,  and  the  chase  an 
exciting  one  ;  but  gradually  the  immense  spread  of  the  frigate's  canvas 
began  to  tell,  and  she  rapidly  overhauled  the  fugitive.  The  I-'rench 
captain  was  plucky,  and  even  desperate,  in  his  attempt  to  escape  ;  for, 
seeing  that  he  was  about  to  be  overhauled,  he  resorted  to  the  expedient 
of  a  fox  chased  by  hounds,  and  doubled,  turning  short  to  windward,  and 
running  right  under  the  guns  of  the  frigate.  The  move  was  a  bold  one, 
and  might  well  have  succeeded,  had  it  not  been  for  the  good  mnrksman- 
ship  of   a  gunner  on  the  frigate,  who  promptly  sent   a   twenty-four-pound 


kit 


lul 


!  i 


II 


■li 

:  i! 


'. 


PRIVATEERS. 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


49 


shot  (the  only  one  fired  in  the  affair)  straight  through  the  hull  of  the 
privateer,  between  wind  and  water.  In  an  instant  all  was  confusion  on 
the  French  vessel.  The  water  poured  into  her  hold  through  the  hole 
cut  by  the  shot ;  and  the  hasty  lowering  of  her  sails,  and  the  frantic 
howls  for  succor  from  the  crew,  told  the  people  of  the  "  United  States  " 
that  their  chase  was  at  an  end.  The  boats  of  the  frigate  were  quickly 
lowered,  and  Decatur  went  in  one  as  officer  in  command.  When  he 
reached  the  sinking  ship,  he  found  a  scene  too  ludicrous  to  be  pathetic. 
Alon-r  the  rail  of  the  vessel,  from  bow  to  stern,  the  Frenchmen  were 
perched  like  birds.  ]\Iany  had  stripped  off  all  their  clothes,  in  order  to 
be  prepared  to  swim  ;  and  from  all  arose  a  medley  of  plaintive  cries  for 
help,  and  curses  on  that  unlucky  shot.  By  skilful  management  of  the 
boats,  all  were  saved  ;  and  it  happened  that  Decatur  pulled  into  his  own 
boat  the  captain  of  the  sinking  vessel. 

Brushing  the  salt  water  out  of  his  eyes,  this  worthy  expressed  great 
surprise  that  he  had  been  fired  upon  by  a  vessel  bearing  the  United 
States  flag. 

"  Ees  eet  that  that  ees  a  sheep  of  les  fitats-Unis .' "  he  inquired,  in 
the  broken  English  that  four  years  of  cruising  against  Americans  had 
enabled  him  to  pick  up. 

"  It  is,"  responded  Decatur. 

"  I  am  indeed  sairprised.  I  had  not  thought  that  les  litats-Unis  had 
the  war  with  La  Republiquc  Fran^aise." 

"No,  sir,"  responded  Decatur,  thoroughly  provoked;  "but  you  knew 
that  the  French  Republic  was  at  war  with  the  United  States,  that  you 
were  taking  our  merchant-vessels  every  day,  and  crowding  our  country- 
men into  prison  at  Basseterre  to  die  like  sheep." 

This  was  more  than  the  Frenchman  could  deny,  and  he  was  con- 
strained to  accept  his  capture  with  the  best  grace  possible. 

An  audacious,  but  clearly  illegal,  exploit  of  the  blue-jackets  in  this 
war,  was  the  cutting  out  and  capture  of  the  French  letter-of-marque 
vessel  "  Sandwich,"  as  she  lay  in  Port  Platte,  a  small  harbor  on  the 
Spanish  side  of  St.  Domingo.     Commodore  Talbot,  who  won  a  reputation 


50 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


1, 


for  daring  and  recklessness  in  the  Revolution,  was  cruising  about  on  the 
San  Domingo  station,  and  had  spent  some  weeks  in  monotonous  voyaging, 
without  an  opportunity  to  capture  a  single  prize.  Word  was  brought 
to  the  squadron,  that  in  the  little  harbor  of  Port  Platte  a  vessel  was 
taking  in  a  cargo  of  coffee.  P'rom  the  description  of  the  vessel,  Com- 
modore Talbot  recognized  her  as  a  former  British  packet,  the  "Sand- 
wich," now  sailing  under  French  letters  of  marque.  Her  known  speed 
and  seaworthy  qualities  made  her  too  valuable  a  prize  to  be  left  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  ;  and  Talbot,  without  more  ado,  determined  to  cap- 
ture her.  The  first  difficulty  that  lay  in  the  way  was  the  fact  that  the 
vessel  was  under  the  protection  of  Spain,  a  neutral  power.  Talbot  was  no 
man  to  notice  so  purely  formal  an  obstacle.  He  growled  out  a  decided 
negative  to  all  hints  about  respecting  a  neutral  flag.  Spain  neutral, 
indeed !  She  might  claim  to  be  neutral,  but  her  Picaroons  were  too 
often  to  be  found  among  the  French  pirates  to  leave  any  respect  for 
Spain's  neutrality  in  the  mind  of  a  man  of  sense  ;  and  the  "  Sandwich  " 
he  was  going  to  take,  and  on  his  own  responsibility.  This  silenced  all 
opposition.  ^ 

Having  arrived  at  the  determination  to  take  the  "Sandwich,"  the  ne.xt 
problem  to  be  solved  was,  how  shall  she  be  taken .'  Obviously  the  first 
step  was  to  make  a  careful  reconnoissancc  of  the  ship  and  her  defences. 
To  Lieut.  Hull  of  the  "  Constitution,"  this  duty  was  assigned.  One  dark 
and  stormy  night  Mr.  Hull  took  one  of  the  frigate's  cutters,  and,  pulling 
into  the  harbor,  carefully  examined  the  situation.  On  his  return,  he 
reported  that  the  "  Sandwich  "  was  stripped  of  her  rigging,  and  lay 
directly  under  the  guns  of  a  small  battery,  built  on  shore  for  her  pro- 
tection. To  sail  in  with  the  frigate,  and  capture  the  enemy  by  mere 
force  of  arms,  would  have  been  simple  enough ;  but  the  object  of  the 
Americans  was  to  take  the  ship  without  injuring  her,  in  order  that  she 
might  at  once  join  the  United  States  squadron.  Strategy  was  therefore 
necessary. 

It  was  accordingly  determined  to  secure  an  American  merchant-vessel, 
that   could  enter  the   port,  and   run   alongside   the  "  Sandwich,"  without 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


51 


arousing  suspicion.     Luckily  at  that  very  moment  a  craft  turned  up  that 
filled  the  need  precisely.     This  was  the  American  sloop  "  Sally,"  a  battered, 

weather-beaten  little  craft,  that  had  for 
some  time  been  trading  in  the  West 
Indies,  and  by  her  very  insignificance 
had  escaped  capture  by  the  French.  She 
had  often  entered  and  cleared  from  Port 
Platte,  and  therefore  her  appearance  there 
would  create  no  suspicion. 

The  "  Sally  " 
was  accordingly 
chosen  to  bear 
the  sailors  on 
their  audacious 
e.xpedition.  A 
rendezvous  hav- 
ng  been  appoint- 
ed, the  sloop  met 


HULL  MAKES  A  RECONNOISSANCK. 


the    "Constitution"   far  out   at   sea;   and   a  large   body  of    blue -jackets 
and    marines    left    the    frigate,   and    took    quarters    on    the   clumsy   little 


i   i' 

t 

I 
>    t 

I  ] 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


merchantman,  which  then  laid  her  course  for  Port  Platte.  About  mid- 
night the  lookouts  on  the  "  Sally "  saw  a  vessel's  lights  near  at  hand  ; 
but,  beyond  reporting  to  the  officer  of  the  deck,  they  paid  no  heed  to 
their  neighbor.  Suddenly,  however,  out  of  the  darkness  came  a  bright 
flash;  and  the  hum  of  a  heavy  shot  in  the  air  above  the  "Sally"  was 
followed  by  the  dull  report  of  a  cannon.  At  the  same  time  a  blue  light 
burned  on  the  deck  of  the  vessel  from  which  the  shot  proceeded,  showed 
her  to  be  a  powerful  frigate.  Then  ensued  a  few  moments  of  intense 
suspense  for  the  little  band  on  the  "Sally."  Should  the  stranger  prove 
to  be  a  French  frigate,  all  was  lost ;  but  in  that  latitude  English  vessels 
were  common,  and  possibly  this  might  be  one.  Soon  the  regular  thump- 
ing of  oars  in  the  tholepins,  and  the  splashing  of  the  waves  against  an 
approaching  boat,  could  be  heard  ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  hail  came  from 
the  black  water  alongside,  and  the  dark  figure  of  a  man  standing  in  the 
stern-sheets  of  a  boat  was  seen.  A  rope  was  thrown  him,  by  the  aid  of 
which  he  nimbly  clambered  aboard.  An  involuntary  murmur  of  relief 
aro.se  from  the  party  on  the  "  Sally,"  as  by  the  dim  light  of  the  lanterns 
they  saw  that  the  oflficer  wore  a  British  uniform.  The  officer  himself 
could  not  repress  a  start  and  exclamation  of  surprise  as  he  saw  a  band 
of  officers  in  naval  uniform,  and  a  large  body  of  blue-jackets  and  marines, 
on  the  vessel  which  he  expected  to  find  manned  by  a  half-dozen  lanky 
Yankees,  commanded  by  a  down-east  "skipper." 

"  Why,  what  ship's  this .' "  he  exclaimed  in  surprise,  as  he  looked 
upon  the  armed  men  about  him.  Lieut.  Hull,  who  was  in  command, 
explained  to  him  the  situation,  and  told  him  of  the  adventure  that  was 
being  attempted.  The  officer  seemed  much  disappointed,  and  told  Mr. 
Hull  that  the  British  frigate  was  standing  about  outside  the  harbor,  to 
capture  the  "  Sandwich "  as  she  came  out ;  but  the  idea  of  so  boldly 
setting  at  naught  the  principles  of  neutrality  had  not  occurred  to  them. 
After  a  few  minutes'  conversation,  the  visitor  returned  to  his  ship,  and 
the  "  Sally "  proceeded  on  her  errand.  She  reached  the  entrance  to  the 
harbor  of  Port  Platte  in  the  morning,  and  sailed  boldly  in.  Most  of 
the   crew  and   the   marines  were   hidden   beneath   the   bulwarks,  or  sent 


BLUF-JACKi:rs  OK    iSi2. 


53 


below ;  so  that  the  people  on  the  "  Sanchvich  "  gave  but  a  glance  to  the 
approaching  vessel,  until  she  ran  so  close  to  their  vessel's  bows  that 
they  feared  an  accident. 

"Look  out  there,  or  you'll  run  foul  of  us!"  shouted  a  mate  from  the 
deck  of  the  "  Sandwich  ;  and,  as  if  his  cry  was  a  signal,  the  helm  of 
the  "  Sally "  was  put  down,  the  vessel  ranged  up  alongside,  and  in  an 
instant  a  torrent  of  armed  men  poured  over  the  sides  of  the  surprised 
Frenchman,  and  drove  the  crew  below.  There  was  no  resistance.  The 
ship  was  captured  in  five  minutes.  The  marines  of  the  expedition  had 
been  sent  ashore  to  spike  the  guns  of  the  battery,  and  their  work  was 
performed  with  equal  promptitude.  Then  all  hands  set  to  work  rigging 
the  captured  vessel,  and  getting  her  ready  for  sea.  On  the  shore  the 
people  were  in  the  greatest  e.xcitcment,  beating  drums,  parading  the  few 
militia,  and  threatening  dire  revenge  in  the  name  of  outraged  Spain. 
But  the  captors  of  the  vessel  paid  but  little  attention  to  their  enemies ; 
and  by  sunset  the  "  Sandwich,"  with  all  sails  set,  left  the  harbor,  and 
joined  the  United  States  squadron. 

The  news  of  this  achievement,  lawless  as  it  was,  evoked  great  enthu- 
siasm in  the  United  States.  A  nation's  conscience  is  elastic  ;  and  the 
people  praised  the  heroes  of  the  "  Sandwich  "  episode,  much  as  sixty-five 
years  later  they  commended  the  commander  of  the  "  Wachusct "  for 
running  down  and  capturing  the  Confederate  ship  "  Florida,"  which  was 
relying  upon  the  protection  of  a  neutral  port  in  Brazil.  Yet  in  1814, 
when  two  British  frigates  attacked  and  captured  the  "  F^ssex "  in  the 
harbor  of  Rio  Janeiro,  the  good  people  of  the  United  States  were  loud 
in  their  denunciations  of  the  treachery  of  a  commander  who  would  so 
abuse  the  protection  of  a  neutral  nation.  Such  inconsistencies  are  only 
too  common  in  the  history  of  nations.  In  the  end,  however,  the  affair 
of  the  "Sandwich"  terminated  disastrously  for  the  bold  adventurers;  for 
the  protests  of  Spain  were  too  forcible  to  be  disregarded,  and  the  prize- 
money  of  all  concerned  in  the  exploit  was  confiscated  to  pay  the  damages 
awarded  the  injured  party. 

Not   all   the   successes   of  the   United   States   navy   in   the   war  with 


54 


BLUK-JACKKTS   OF    1812. 


I       'I 


I 


(    ! 
( 


France  were,  like  those  we  have  related,  dependent  upon  the  speed 
rather  than  the  fighting  qualities  of  our  ships.  Not  many  months  had 
passed,  when  two  representative  shijis  of  the  warring  nations  met,  and 
tried  conclusions  at  the  mouths  of  their  cannon.  It  was  on  the  9th  of 
February  that  the  "  Constellation,"  one  of  the  new  American  frigates,  was 
cruising  on  her  station  in  the  West  Indies,  when  her  lookout  reported  a 
large  ship  some  miles  to  leeward.  The  frigate  at  once  ran  down  upon 
the  stranger,  which  hoisted  American  colors.  Among  ships  of  the  same 
navy  it  is  customary  to  have  private  signals  of  recognition  ;  and  Commo- 
dore Tru.xton,  who  commanded  the  "  Constellation,"  set  his  signal,  and 
awaited  the  answer.  But  no  answer  came  ;  and  the  stranger,  evidently 
considering  further  disguise  impossible,  boldly  set  French  colors,  and 
fired  a  gun  to  windward  by  way  of  a  challenge. 

On  the  "  Constellation "  the  challenge  aroused  universal  enthusiasm. 
For  the  first  time  since  the  Revolution,  the  gallant  defenders  of  the 
stars  and  stripes  were  to  have  an  opportunity  to  try  their  strength  with 
a  hostile  man-of-war.  The  enemy  seemed  no  less  ready  for  the  conflict, 
and  waited  gallantly  for  the  "  Constellation  "  to  come  down  to  closer 
quarters.  From  both  ships  came  the  roll  of  the  drums  and  the  shrill 
pipings  of  the  bo's'n's  whistle,  as  the  men  were  called  to  quarters.  Then 
all  became  still,  and  the  two  frigates  bore  down  upon  each  other.  Neither 
antagonist  was  hasty  about  opening  fire,  and  the  report  of  the  first  gun 
came  from  the  Yankee  when  she  had  come  into  point-blank  range.  Then 
began  the  thunderous  broadsides,  that  soon  enveloped  the  hulls  of  the 
two  ships  in  dense  gray  smoke ;  so  that,  to  an  observer  at  a  little  dis- 
tance, all  that  could  be  seen  of  the  fight  was  the  tapering  masts  and 
yard-arms,  above  the  smoke,  crowded  with  sailors  repairing  damages,  and 
nimble  young  midshipmen  shrilly  ordering  about  the  grizzled  seamen 
and  now  and  again  taking  a  crack  at  the  enemy  with  pistol  or  n  ';k«i, 
by  way  of   recreation.     In   the  foretop  of  the   "  Constellation ''  sta- 

tioned young   David    Porter,   who    in    that    trying    moment    shi        !    the 
result  of  his  hard  schooling  in   the   merchant-service,   of  which  we    hav 
spoken.     By  the  rapid  fire  of  the  enemy,  the  foretopmast  was  badly  cut,. 


ULUr-JACKKTS  OF    1812. 


55 


-.4' 


and  there  was  great  danger  that  it  might  go  by  the  board.  Porter  hailed 
the  deck  several  times  for  instructions,  but,  finding  that  his  voice  could 
not  be  heard  above  the  roar  of  battle,  determined  to  act  upon  his  own 
responsibility,  and  accordingly  cut  away  the  sails,  lowered  the  yards, 
and,  by  relieving  the  injured  spar  of  all  strain,  prevented  its  falling.  In 
the  mean  time  the  battle  raged  fiercely  below.  The  American  frigate 
was  more  powerful  in  her  armament,  and  better  handled,  than  the  I-'rench- 
man.  Her  guns  were  handled  with  deliberation,  and  the  aim  of  the  gun- 
ners was  sure  and  deadly  ;  while  the  shot  from  the  enemy  went  hurtling 
through  the  rigging  of  the  "Constellation,"  doing  but  little  damage.  The 
decks  of  the  Frenchman  were  covered  with  dead  and  wounded,  and  at 
last  two  raking  broadsides  from  the  American  frigate  ended  the  con- 
flict. When  the  vanquished  ship  was  boarded,  she  proved  to  be  the 
"  Insurgente,"  the  same  frigate  that  had  captured  the  "  Retaliation  "  some 
months  before.  Her  loss  in  this  engagement  amounted  to  tv.  L-nty-nine 
killed  and  forty-one  wounded,  while  the  cock-pit  of  the  "  Constellation " 
was  tenanted  by  but  three  wounded  men  ;  and  but  one  American  had 
lost  his  life,  he  having  been  killed  by  an  officer,  for  cowardice,  lioth 
ships  were  badly  cut  up  in  the  engagement. 

The  news  of  this  victory  was  received  with  great  rejoicing  in  the 
United  States,  and  was  celebrated  with  cannon-firing  and  the  ringing  of 
bells.  At  Boston,  the  fourth  Sunday  in  March  was  set  for  a  day  of  gen- 
eral rejoicing ;  and  on  that  day  huge  crowds  gathered  in  State  Street, 
and  after  salutes  had  been  fired,  and  the  city's  bells  pealed,  the  people, 
at  a  given  signal,  joined  in  three  mighty  cheers,  that  fairly  shook  the 
surrounding  houses,  for  Tru.xton,  the  "Constellation,"  the  blue-jackets, 
and  the  success  of  the  wooden  walls  of  America. 

Even  after  the  "  Insurgente "  had  struck  her  flag,  the  tars  of  the 
"Constellation"  found  they  had  an  elephant  on  their  hands.  The  work 
of  transferring  the  prisoners  was  begun,  and  actively  prosecuted ;  but,  when 
night  fell,  there  were  still  nearly  two  hundred  Frenchmen  on  the  prize. 
The  wind  was  rising  fast,  and  the  long  rollers  of  the  Atlantic  were  being 
lashed   into   foaming   breakers   by  the   rising   gale.     It  was  hazardous  for 


ItLUK-JACKKTS  OF    1.S12. 


>t1 


the  two  vessels  to  continue  near  each  other ;  and  Lieutenant  Rodders, 
with  Midshipman  I'orter  and  eleven  men,  was  detailed  to  take  charge 
of  the  prize,  and  bring  her  into  port.  When  the  officers  boarded  the 
prize,  they  found  that  they  had  indeed  a  desperate  undertaking  before 
them.  It  was  difficult  enough  for  thirteen  men  to  handle  the  great  ship, 
without  having  to  keep  in  subjection  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  cap- 
tives. To  add  to  the  danger,  the  gratings  had  been  thrown  overboard, 
and  there  was  no  way  of  confining  the  captives  in  the  hold.  A  carefui 
search  for  handcuffs  resulted  only  in  failure.  Hut  Rodgcrs  was  a  man 
of  decision,  anil  i'ortei,  though  but  a  boy,  was  bold  and  detcrmiinii ;  and 
between  them  they  solveil  the  problem.  The  prisoners  were  ordered 
below  ;  and  a  sentinel  was  placed  at  each  hatchway,  with  orders  to  shoot 
tile  first  man  who  should  attempt  to  come  on  deck.  Howitzers  loaded 
with  grape  were  trained  upon  the  hntchway,  for  use  in  case  of  an  organ- 
ized movement  of  tiie  prisoners.  For  three  days  the  officers  sustained 
this  fearful  strain,  witiiout  a  moment's  sleep ;  but  their  labors  were  finally 
crowned  by  successfully  bringing  the  ship  and  prisoners  into  St.  Kitts. 

In  the  second  pitched  battle  of  the  war,  the  "Constellation"  was  again 
the  .Viiierican  combatant  ;  but  this  time,  though  the  fight  was  a  glorious 
one,  it  ilid  not  terminate  so  fortunately  for  the  American  ship.  It  was 
on  the  1st  of  February,  1800,  that  the  gallant  frigate,  under  the  same 
commander,  was  cruising  about  her  old  hunting-grounds,  near  Guadaloupe. 
A  sail  was  sighted,  which,  after  a  careful  examination  through  his  marine- 
glass,  Commodore  Truxton  pronounced  to  be  an  English  merchantman. 
As  an  invitation  to  the  stranger  to  ajjproach,  linglish  colors  were  hoisted 
on  the  "Constellation,"  but  had  only  the  effect  of  causing  the  stranger 
to  sheer  off  ;  for  she  was,  intleed,  a  Freivh  war-vessel.  I'erple.\ed  by  the 
actions  of  the  mysterious  ship,  the  "Constellation"  gave  chase,  and  soon 
came  near  enough  to  see  that  she  had  caught  a  Tartar;  for  the  vessel  was 
the  P'rench  frigate  "  La  Vengeance,"  mounting  fifty-two  guns.  Although 
a  more  |)owerful  vessel  than  the  American,  she  continued  her  flight  ;  while 
the  gallant  Truxton,  caring  nothing  for  the  odils  against  him,  kept  on  in 
hot   pursuit.     All  the  remainder  of   that  day,  and  until  noon  of  the  next, 


III 


A  MIDNIGHT    BATTLE. 


f:i 


ill 


-4#+ 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1811. 


59 


the  chase  continued,  with  but  little  change  in  the  p'^  ..   the  ships. 

"A  stern  chase  is  a  long  chase,"  thought  the  jad  the  "Constella- 

tion ; "  but  they  were  not  discouraged,  and  only  crowv. .  d  on  the  more  sai 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day,  the  American  began  to  gain  rapidl)  , 
and  by  eight  at  night  the  two  ships  were  within  speaking  distance  of 
each  other.  Truxton  mounted  the  rail,  and  shouted  through  a  speaking- 
trumpet,  "  What  ship  is  that  ? "  The  only  answer  was  a  shot  from  the 
stern-port  of  the  Frenchman,  and  the  fight  was  opened. 

It  was  then  growing  dark,  though  the  faint  glow  of  the  long  tropic 
twilight  still  lingered  on  the  western  horizon.  Above  the  towering  masts 
of  the  two  great  frigates,  the  stars  gleamed  with  a  brilliancy  .seldom 
seen  in  more  northern  latitudes.  As  the  ships  rushed  through  the  water, 
the  waves  broke  against  the  bows,  and  fell  back  in  masses  of  phosjjhor- 
esccnt  light ;  while  the  wakes  of  the  vessels  could  be  traced  far  back 
into  the  darkness,  —  two  parallel  paths  of  light,  that  glowed  and  sparkled 
like  the  milky  way  that  spannec'  the  starry  sky  above. 

Side  by  side  the  two  frigates  ploughed  through  the  water.  The  creak- 
ing of  their  cordage,  and  the  rushing  of  the  wind  through  the  rigging, 
mingled  with  the  thunder  of  the  cannonade,  which,  though  slow,  and 
made  up  of  single  reports,  when  the  "  Con.stellation "  was  confined  to 
the  use  of  her  bow-chasers,  soon  rose  to  thunderous  broadsides  as  the 
two  ships  came  side  to  side.  As  the  twilight  died  away,  the  two  con- 
testants were  enveloped  in  almost  total  darkness,  save  for  the  fitful  flashes 
of  the  cannon,  and  the  red  glare  of  the  battle-lanterns  that  hung  from 
the  shrouds.  The  gunners  had  for  a  target  nothing  but  a  black,  shape- 
less mass,  that  could  be  seen  rushing  through  the  waves  some  hundreds 
of  yards  away.  But  this  did  not  i)revent  fearful  execution  being  done  on 
hotli  sides.  For  five  hours  the  two  ships  kept  up  the  running  fight. 
Thv;  ponderous  eighteen  and  forty-two  poiuul  shot  of  the  enemy  crashed 
into  the  "Constellation,"  or  swept  her  decks,  doing  dreadful  damage.  The 
deck  was  strewn  with  dead  and  dying  men,  and  the  surgeons  down  in 
the  cock-pit  soon  had  their  tables  full  of  moaning  sufferers.  No  one  could 
tell  what  might  be  the   condition   of  "  La  Vengeance ; "  but   her  regular 


6o 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


fire  told  that  she  was  in  no  wise  disahled.  At  one  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  sound  of  her  guns  seemed  to  be  more  distant ;  and  by  the  flash 
of  the  cannon  it  was  seen  that  she  was  drawing  out  of  the  fight.  The 
Americans  cheered  lustily,  and  Truxton  ordered  that  his  ship  be  braced 
up  in  chase. 

But  the  fire  of  the  enemy  had  been  rapid  and  well  directed  ;  and  now, 
at  this  critical  moment,  its  results  were  to  rob  the  "  Constellation  "  of 
her  victory.  As  the  ships  were  brought  about,  to  follow  in  the  track 
of  the  flying  "Vengeance,"  an  officer  came  rushing  to  the  quarter-deck, 
and  reported  that  all  the  shrouds  and  braces  of  the  foremast  had  been 
shot  away,  and  the  mast  was  in  momentary  danger  of  falling.  The  rigging 
had  been  so  literally  cut  in  pieces  by  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  that  splicing 
was  out  of  the  question ;  but  Tru.xton,  in  the  hope  of  saving  his  mast, 
called  all  hands  from  the  guns,  and  the  fire  of  the  "Constellation" 
stopped. 

Up  in  the  foretop  was  stationed  Midshipman  Jarvis,  with  a  dozen  or 
more  of  jackies,  whose  duty  it  was  to  mend  the  cordage  of  the  topmast, 
and  to  keep  up  a  musketry  firr  1  tne  enemy.     Long  before  the  officer 

of  the  deck  had  reported  the  uun^.-*  of  the  foremast,  one  of  the  topmen 
had  told  Jarvis,  who  Vvas  but  a    ^..,  that  the  mast  was  likely  to  fall. 

"Ay,  ay,  my  lad,"  responded  the  plucky  young  officer;  "but  our  place 
is  here,  and  we  must  go  with  it." 

The  sailors  on  the  deck  below  worked  manfully :  but,  notwithstanding 
all  their  efforts,  the  mast  soon  went  by  the  board  ;  and  Jarvis  and  his 
brave  comrades  were  thrown  far  out  into  the  black  water,  never  to  be 
seen  again. 

The  fall  of  the  foremast  ended  the  battle  for  the  "Constellation." 
Helpless,  and  cumbered  by  the  wreck,  she  tossed  about  on  the  water 
while  her  foe  made  good  her  escape.  What  might  have  been  the  out'  m.- 
of  the  conflict,  had  it  continued,  it  is  impossible  to  tell.  "La  Vengea  .e  " 
carried  heavier  metal  and  a  larger  crew  than  the  American  frigate  ;  and 
Tru.xton,  with  all  his  dash,  found  no  mean  adversary  It  Capt.  Pitot.  Yet 
the  condition  of   the  French  ship  when  she  came  into  port  at   Curaqoa 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


61 


showed  that  the  fire  of  the  Yankee  gunners  had  been  rapid  and  accurate. 
Fifty  of  the  enemy  were  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  ten  wounded ; 
while,  of  the  Americans,  only  thirty-nine  appeared  on  the  lists  of  killed 
and  wounded.  It  was  said  at  the  time,  that  Capt.  I'itot  reported  havin<; 
struck  his  flag  three  times  ;  hoisting  it  again,  on  finding  that  in  the 
darkness  the  "Constellation"  took  no  notice  of  the  surrender.  But  this 
seems,  on  the  face  of  it,  improbable ;  and  the  action  can  hardly  be 
awarded  to  either  ship,  although  the  gallantry  shown  on  cither  side  was 
enough  to  win  a  victory. 

It  may  well  be  imagined  that  this  brilliant  action,  together  with  the 
capture  of  "  L'Insurgente,"  made  the  "Constellation"  the  most  popular 
ship  of  the  navy ;  a  place  which  she  held  until  the  stirring  events  of 
the  war  with  England  pushed  the  "  Constitution  "  so  far  to  the  front,  that 
even  now,  when  she  lies  dismantled  and  rotting  at  the  Brooklyn  navy- 
yard,  Americans  still  think  of  "  Old  Ironsides  "  as  the  typical  ship  of  our 
once  glorious  navy. 

The  actions  between  the  "Constellation"  and  the  "Vengeance"  and 
"Insurgente"  were  the  chief  contests  between  regularly  commissioned 
shii)s  of  the  two  nations  in  the  war  with  France.  Hut  the  West  Indies 
were  filled  with  privateers  and  semi-piratical  craft,  with  which  the  navy 
waged  a  ceaseless  warfare,  which  well  prepared  the  blue-jackets  for  the 
graver  struggle  which  vvas  yet  to  come  with  Great  Britain.  The  half-savage 
population  of  the  French  islands  was  a  fruitful  source  of  trouble  to  the 
American  seaman.  These  gentry,  known  as  Picaroons,  seemed  to  have 
a  natural  inclination  for  piracy ;  and  the  unlucky  merchanl-ca|)tain  who 
shoulil  come  to  anchor,  or  be  becalmed,  near  one  of  the  islands,  was  sure 
to  see  his  vessel  boarded,  and  his  cargo  plundered,  by  a  lawless  horde  if 
Frenchmen  and  mulattoes,  whose  dialect  was  a.i  unmusical  combination 
of  French  and  African  tongues.  The  cust(<m  of  the  Picaroons  was  to 
do  their  cruising  in  huge  barges  propelled  l>y  sweeps.  With  these  they 
would  often  cut  out  a  merchant-vessel  from  beneath  the  guns  of  a  protect- 
ing man-of-war,  and  row  her  off  to  be  |.lundered  at  leisure.  Occasionally, 
however,  their  well-laiu  plans  failed  in  the  e.xecution. 


Ifi 


6t 


iii,ri:-iACKi:'i's  oi*  iSu. 


One  of  tlic  niDsl  noted  of  these  occasions  was  the  repulse  of  ten 
Picaroon  barijes  tiiat  attacl<e(l  tiie  Uiiiteii  States  topsail  schooner  "  iCxperi- 
ment,"  and  a  fleet  of  nierchantiueii  under  her  chari;e.  The  "  Mxperinienl," 
with  lier  convoy,  was  lyini;  l)ecalmeil  in  the  Hi;;ht  of  Leo.nane,  in  tiie 
island  of  San  I)omin,L;o.  Not  a  breath  of  air  was  stirrinj;- ;  and  the  vessels, 
drifting;  about  at  the  mercy  of  the  currents,  soon  became  widely  separated, 
and  were  an  easy  prey  for  the  hordes  ol  I'icarocjns  that  swarmed  in  that 
re,;;ion.  In  no  way  could  the  "  JCxperiment "  sectu^e  a  position  which 
woulil  enai)le  her  to  protect  all  the  merchantmen.  In  this  dilemma  it 
was  determined  to  disi^uise  the  war-vessel,  in  the  ho])es  that  the  pirates, 
takin:;  her  for  a  merchantman,  would  attack  her  first.  This  was  ilone  ; 
and,  as  luck  would  have  it,  llie   Picaroons  fell   into  the  trap. 

Allhou^h  not  the  cajjlain  of  the  ship,  Lieut.  David  I'orter  was  in 
comni.ind  on  tiiis  occasion  ;  aiul,  on  hearing"  that  ten  I'icaroon  l)arL;es 
willi  swivels  in  the  bows,  and  crews  of  forty  men  each,  were  a])proachin;;-, 
he  sent  ids  crew  to  quarters,  and  prepared  for  a  desperate  resistance. 
( )Mward  over  the  smooth  waters  came  the  huLje  barf^es,  each  with  its 
twerity-si.\  oars,  lookint;  like  a  mii;hty  centipcile.  On  the  ship  every  thint;- 
was  t|uiet,  as  the  jackies  stood  to  their  i^uns,  witli  the  prospect  of  a 
deadly  stru:;^le  before  them.  Should  the  bari^es  ;;et  to  close  cpiarters, 
and  surround  the  schooner,  no  earthly  power  could  prevent  their  boarding', 
wiien  lluir  numbers  would  surely  brinj;  them  success.  Hut  the  jiainful 
pause  before  the  battle  was  not  Ioii.l;'.  Suddenly  Porter,  ever  on  the  alert, 
cried  out  to  tire.  From  every  ^am  that  could  be  brou'.jht  to  bear,  a 
storm  of  ,i;rape  and  canister  was  rained  upon  the  advancing  boats;  and 
the  yells  that  went  up  from  the  astounded  Picaroons  told  of  the  deadly 
work  done  in  the  crowded  boats.  I'"or  a  moment,  the  fleet  of  l)ar.i;es 
fell  into  lonfusion  ;  some  retreating,  some  advancinj;,  and  others  driftinj; 
about  helpless.  Althou.Lfh  the  murderous  fire  was  kept  up,  the  pirates 
formed  a-ain,  and  attemjited  to  ^et  alongside,  i)ut  were  repeatedly  beaten 
b.ick.  With  musketry  and  swivels  they  attempted  tti  answer  the  fire  of 
the  Americans;  but  witii  little  effect,  for  the  crew  of  the  "  IC.vperiment  " 
ke[)t    close    under    the    bulwarks.       Men   were    i)recious    then,    and    Porter 


-I- 


O 


THE    FIGHl    WITH   THE    PICAROONS. 


I 


mmmmmm 


RI-UE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


65 


would  not  let  one  expose  himself  unnecessarily ;  but  he  himself,  from 
his  prominent  post  of  observation,  was  an  easy  mark,  and  a  Picaroon's 
bullet  soon  lodged  in  his  shoulder.  Notwithstanding  the  painful  wound, 
he  never  left  his  post.  The  unexpected  opposition  only  maddened  the 
Picaroons,  and  they  made  desperate  attempts  to  get  alongside  ;  but  to  no 
avail.  Now  the  stern  and  now  the  bow  of  the  "  Kxperiment "  was  chosen 
as  the  point  of  attack ;  but  still  the  rapid  fire  of  the  jackies  beat  the 
pirates  back. 

On   the  low-lying  shores  of  the  i-slands,  some  hundreds  more  of   the 
Picaroons  had  gathered  to  watch  the  conflict ;  and,  as  the  boats  became 
short-handed  from  the  carnage,  they  put  back  to  the  shore,  and  returned 
to  the  fight  fully  re-enforced.     The  bodies  of  the  dead  were  thrown  over- 
board without   ceremony,  and   soon  attracted  great  schools   of   the  fierce 
sharks    that   abound   in   the  waters  of   the   tropics.     Then   a   new  horror 
was  added  to  the  scene.     At   a   moment  when   the   barges  wavered  and 
floated  for  a  moment  without  motion.  Porter  ordered  his  gunners  to  load 
with  .solid  shot.     Two  or  three  broadsides  rang  out ;  and,  when  the  smoke 
cleared  away,  two  barges  were  seen  to  be  sinking.     The  affrighted  crews 
bent   to   their  oars,  and   strained  every  muscle  to  reach  the  shore  ;   but, 
while   yet   in   deep  water,  the   barges   sunk,  and  the  Picaroons  were  left 
floundering  in  the  sea.     All  struck  out   manfully  for  the  shore  ;   but  sud- 
denly  one  sprung  half  from  the  water,  and  with  a  horrid  yell  sunk  from 
sight.     One   after  another  disajipeared    in  the   same  way  ;   for  the  sharks 
had   tasted   blood,  and  were   not    to   he   appeased.     For  seven    hours   the 
conflict    raged    fiercely;   but   at    last    the    Picaroons   confessed    themselves 
beaten,  and   sullenly  relinquished    their  attacks   upon   the  "Experiment." 
Hut    they   were    not    to    be  wholly    robbed    of    their    plunder;    and    two 
merchant-vessels   fell   a   prey  to   their  piratical  violence,  before   a   breeze, 
springing  up,  enabled  the  squadron  to  escape. 

Before  the  year  was  over,  the  Picaroons  had  another  .serious  defeat  to 
mourn  over;  and  on  this  second  occasion  they  were  well  punished  for 
their  many  piracies.  The  "  Hoston,"  a  twenty-eight-gun  ship,  was  con- 
voying a  merchant-brig  to  Port  au   Prince,  when  the  lookout  discovered 


I 


I 


■i 


66 


HLUK-JACKKTS  OF    1S12. 


niiiL-  larj;c  l)ar};cs  skulkinj^  along  the  shore,  ready  to  pounce  upon  the  two 
vessels  when  a  favorable  moment  should  arrive.  I'orter  was  aga'n  in  com- 
mand, llis  tactics  were  at  once  determined  upon;  and  the  ports  of  the 
"  Jioston  "  were  closed,  and  the  ship  thorouj;hly  disijuised.  The  Picaroons 
were  deceived  sufficiently  to  make  a  dash  upon  the  two  ships,  and  approach 
boldly  within  easy  gun  shot ;  then,  discovering  their  mistake,  they  turned 
and  fled  in  panic.  This  time  no  calm  hami)ered  the  ship-of-war  ;  and,  making 
all  sail,  she  dashed  into  their  midst.  I'or  two  hours  she  kept  within  ea.sy 
range  of  the  barges ;  and  her  gunners,  working  deliberately,  did  fearful 
execution  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  and  sunk  three  barges  before  the 
wretched  fugitives  could  reach  the  shore.  After  dealing  out  this  summary 
justice,  the  "  Hoston  "  continued  her  voyage,  and,  after  leaving  her  convoy 
in  the  port  of  her  destination,  began  a  cruise  about  the  islands  and  the 
Spanish  Main.  In  the  course  of  this  cruise  she  met  the  French  corvette 
"  Le  Herceau,"  which  struck  after  a  plucky  action  of  two  hours.  The 
Frenchman  was  badly  cut  up  in  hull  and  rigging,  and  shortly  after  the 
surrender  her  fore  and  main  masts  went  by  the  board.  The  "  Uoston " 
was  but  little  injured,  and  took  her  prize  safely  into  port. 

After  this  the  fighting  was  chiefly  confined  to  short,  sharp  affrays 
between  the  smaller  United  States  ships  and  the  I*'rench  privateers,  which 
were  generally  good  .sailers  and  well  manned,  although  deficient  in  metal. 
The  great  frigates  like  the  "  Constellation "  found  no  more  adversaries 
worthy  of  their  fighting  qualities,  and  only  the  slcxjps  and  topsail-schooners 
gave  their  crews  a  chance  to  smell  gunpowder.  Some  of  these  smaller 
actions,  however,  were  sharp  and  gallant,  although  their  details  have  not 
been  preserved  like  those  of  the  famous  naval  duels. 

The  "  IC.vperiment,"  after  her  adventure  with  the  Picaroons,  fought 
two  gallant  battles,  and  was  successful  in  each,  although  the  second  for 
a  time  threatened  to  leail  to  international  difficulties.  While  cruising  on 
her  station,  the  ves.sel  made  two  sail,  which,  as  they  came  nearer,  proved 
to  i)e  a  brig  of  eighteen  guns  and  a  three-masted  schooner  of  twenty 
guns,  both  flying  the  French  tricolor,  and  both  intent  on  mischief.  The 
American  fled,  but  laid  her  course  in  such  a  way  as  to  separate  the  two 


BLUK-JACKKTS   OF    1812. 


67 


pursuers.  When  nij^^ht  had  fallen,  Lieut. -Commander  Stewart,  who  com- 
manded the  "  Kxperiment,"  .saw  that  the  enemy's  forces  were  divided  by 
about  a  league  of  green  water,  and  at  once  determined  to  strike  a  blow. 
Doubling  on  his  course,  he  ran  his  vessel  alongside  the  schooner,  and 
poured  in  two  or  three  broadsides  with  such  rapidity  and  haste  that  the 
Frenchman  struck  before  his  consort  could  come  to  his  aid.  Hastily 
throwing  Lieut.  Porter  and  a  prize-crew  aboard  the  prize,  Stewart  dasheil 
off  after  the  brig,  which  fled  incontinently,  and  proved  too  good  a  sailer 
to  be  overtaken.  Pure  audacity  had  carried  the  day  for  the  "  L.xperi- 
ment,"  for  the  brig  was  powerful  enough  to  have  blown  her  pursuer  to 
bits  in  a  short  engagement. 

The  second  exploit  of  the  "  Lxpcrimcnt "  was  no  less  gallant  than 
this,  but  in  the  end  proved  far  less  satisfactory.  Late  in  a  summer's 
afternoon  a  suspicious  sail  was  made  ;  and  the  chase,  begun  at  once,  had 
continued  until  nightfall.  When  darkness  settled  over  the  ocean,  Stewart 
calculated  the  course  laid  by  the  stranger,  and  ordered  his  helmsman 
to  keep  the  ship  on  that  course  until  midnight,  when,  if  the  fugitive  was 
not  overhauled,  the  chase  would  be  abandoned.  Just  before  midnight  a 
sail  was  seen  near  by  and  to  windward.  The  men  were  sent  to  quarters ; 
and  with  guns  .shotted,  and  battle-lanterns  burning,  the  "Kxperiment" 
ran  uji  under  the  stranger's  lee,  and  hailed.  No  answer  was  returned. 
Peri)lexed  and  irritated,  Stewart  ordered  a  shot  fired  into  the  stranger, 
which  was  no  sooner  done  than  a  broadside  was  returned,  which  made 
the  schooner  reel.  Hoth  vessels  were  then  plunged  into  conflict,  though 
neither  knew  the  name  or  nationality  of  the  opponent.  For  a  time  the 
"  It:xperiment "  was  handicapped  by  the  heavy  wind,  which  laid  her  over 
so  far  that  her  guns  were  elevated  skyward,  and  her  shot  whistled  through 
the  enemy's  tops.  To  obviate  this,  planks  were  thrust  under  the  breeches 
of  the  guns,  until  at  last  the  proper  range  was  secured,  when  an  active 
cannonade  soon  forced  the  stranger  to  strike.  Lieut.  Porter  was  sent 
to  take  possession  of  the  prize  ;  but  the  report  he  brought  back  put  all 
thought  of  prize-money  out  of  the  minds  of  the  victors,  for  the  stranger 
was  a  Hermudian  privateer,  flying  the  British  flag,  and  under  the  protec- 


68 


ui,UK-j.\cKr"rs  of  iSu. 


.    Li 


I; 

i    1'^ 


tion  of  a  nation  with  which  the  United  States  was  at  peace.  The  fault 
lay  with  the  privateers  for  not  respondin;;  tr)  the  hail,  but  the  Americans 
did  all  in  their  power  to  repair  the  damage  done.  All  the  ne.\t  day  they 
lay  by  their  vanquished  adversary,  and  the  sailors  of  two  ships  worked 
side  by  side  in  patching  up  the  injuries  done  by  the  shot.  Hy  night  the 
privateer  was  able  to  continue  her  cruise,  resolving,  doubtless,  to  avoid 
future  conflicts  with  the  ships  of  the  American  navy. 

Ihit  to  enter  into  the  details  of  each  of  the  naval  duels  of  the  French 
war  of  1798,  would  require  a  volume  devoted  exclusively  to  its  considera- 
tion. Although  there  was  never  a  declaration  of  war  between  the  two 
countries,  yet  the  warfare  on  the  ocean  was  earnest,  and  even  desperate, 
lioth  nations  went  to  work  with  a  will,  and  the  results  were  of  incalcu- 
lable benefit  to  the  then  pygmy  navy  of  the  United  States.  In  their 
newspapers  the  Americans  read  with  wonder  and  pride  of  the  successes 
of  their  now  vessels  and  young  .sailors,  against  the  trained  seamen  and 
best  frigates  of  I'Vance.  When  the  war  closed,  the  country  rang  with  the 
prai-ses  of  the  blue-jackets.  Indeed,  a  record  of  si.xty-four  I'rench  vessels 
captured,  besides  many  American  vessels  which  were  recaptured  from 
their  captors,  was  enough  to  arouse  feelings  of  pride  throughout  the 
nation;  and  the  celerity  with  which  l''rance  seized  upon  the  projjosal 
for  peace  showed  well  the  reputation  which  our  navy  had  gained  beyond 
the  ocean.  For  months  after  the  peace  was  signed,  the  names  of  Hain- 
bridge,  Tru.xton,  Stewart,  and  Talbot  were  household  words  throughout 
the  nation  ;  and  the  deeds  of  the  gallant  ships  along  the  Spanish  Main 
were  the  favorite  stories  of  the  boys  of  the  land.  Three  of  the  oaken 
veterans,  however,  never  came  home ;  but  against  their  names  must  be  put 
the  .saddest  of  all  naval  records :  founilered  at  sea.  The  captured  "  Insur- 
gentc,"  the  "Saratoga,"  and  the  "Pickering"  simply  vanished  from  the 
ocean.  Over  fourscore  years  have  passed  ;  and  of  them,  and  the  gallant 
lads  that  manned  them,  nothing  has  ever  been  known.  Whether  they 
perished  by  the  fury  of  the  tropical  typhoon,  whether  a  midnight  col- 
lision sent  them  suddenly  to  the  bottom,  or  whether  the  ships  were 
destroyed   and   the   crews   murdered  by  the  piratical   desperadoes   of   the 


i 


HLL'i:-JACKi:rS   ok    iSu. 


69 


West  Indies,  can  nevxr  be  known.  Somewhere  on  the  coral-strewn  bed 
of  the  blue  seas  of  the  trojjics  lie  the  moulderin};  hulks  of  those  Rood 
ships,  and  the  bones  of  their  gallant  crews.  There  will  they  lie,  unknown 
and  unsouj^ht,  until  earthly  warfare  is  over  for  all  men,  and  the  sea  give* 
up  its  dead. 


S-.r'^i 


/>>■ 
I 


^s-^ 


ciiArTi:k  HI. 


rR()l'<>SII>  KIIHlTION  OF  Tin.  N  AW  -  Kl  NKW  \l  <H  BRITISH  orTRAGF.S.  -  TIIF.  AFFAIR  oK 
THK  ••  IIAI.IIMIIRK.-- ATTACK  ( iS  TIIK  "  IKANItKR.'  -  KM  i  >INTKK  IIF.TWEKN  TJIK  "CTIES- 
AI'KAKI. "   ANI>  "  I.IOI'ARI)." 


t  ; 


i!      ! 


( )T  many  months  had  elapsed  after  the  close  of  the  war  between 
the  I'nited  States  and  l-'rance,  w)ien  the  pride  of  the  nation 
in  the  navy  that  had  won  such  laurels  in  that  conflict  began 
to  wane.  In  the  jjlace  of  jjoems  and  editorials  sinj^inj;  the 
praises  ami  pointin};  out  tiie  value  of  the  navy,  the  newspapers  began 
to  be  filled  with  demands  for  its  reduction.  It  was  an  unwarrantable 
expense,  exclaimed  the  critics  of  the  press,  for  a  nation  so  young,  and  so 
far  from  the  warring  peoples  of  luirope,  to  maintain  a  navy  at  all.  A 
few  gunboats  to  guard  the  coast  would  be  enough.  All  the  consecpiences 
of  the  reduction  of  the  navy  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  were  for- 
gotten in  an  instant.  A  penny-wise  and  pound-foolish  spirit  came  over 
all  the  political  leaders ;  and  the  Democratic  party,  then  newly  come  into 
power,  determined  to  endear  itself  to  the  hearts  of  the  people  by  cutting 
down  the  expenses  of  the  Ciovernment,  and  to  this  end  they  attacked 
first  the  appro])riations  for  the  navy.  A  gallant  fight  was  made  against 
the  total  abolition  of  the  navy;  and  finally  it  was  decided  to  retain  thir- 
teen  of   the   ships-of-war    on    the    list,    while    the   others    should    be    sold. 


-.c^ 


BLUK-J.UKi;rs  OF    iSi 


Witli  these  thirteen  vessels,  of  which  the  most  noted  were  the  "Consti- 
tution," tlie  "Constellation,"  and  the  "United  States,"  the  navy  was 
placed  upon  a  peace  footinj;.  I*)ven  this  moderate  squadron,  however, 
hrouj;ht  out  much  opposition  from  economically  minded  statesmen  ;  but 
the  a>;};ressions  of  the  IJarhary  pirates,  and  the  war  with  Tripoli  which 
openeil  in  i.Soi,  };ave  tlie  sailor  lads  active  employment,  and  for  the  time 
the  outcry  of  the  economists  aj^ainst  the  navy  ceased, 

( )f  the  various  wars  with  Tripoli  and  the  other  states  of  liarbary, 
nnthinLC  will  he  said  in  this  volume.  The  political  bearing;  of  the  Tripol- 
itan  war  upon  the  war  which  afterward-  ..illoweii  with  (ireat  Urit.iin  was 
sli;.;ht  ;  but.  as  discipline  for  ihe  sterner  reality  of  naval  warfare  with  the 
nation  Ion;;  rejiuted  to  be  "mistress  of  the  seas,"  the  experience  tif 
the   \'aiikee  tars  with  the  lurbaned   infidels  was  invaluable. 

Let  us,  then,  return  to  the  shameful  recountal  of  the  injuries  com- 
mitted l)y  the  Hrilish  upon  the  American  (lat;  on  the  hi;;b  seas.  I'"ven 
while  the  Uni»ed  .States  was  at  war  with  l''rance,  and  tlius  aidin;;  the 
British,  the  outrages  never  ceased.  American  .sailors  were  still  impressed. 
American  vessels  were  l)oarded,  and  often  seized,  on  the  slij;htest  pre 
te.\ts.  ICven  the  ships  of  the  (lovermuent  were  not  e.vempt,  for  the 
liritish  resjjected  no  ri},dU  save  that  of  j;reater  power. 

It  was  in  .November,  179.S,  that  the  United  .States  sloop-of-war  "  Hal- 
timore,  '  of  twenty  guns,  and  under  command  of  Capt.  rhillips,  was  in 
charge  of  a  convoy  of  merchantmen  bound  to  Havana.  On  the  morning 
of  the  i^ili  of  tha*  Tionth,  the  sloop,  witii  her  convoy,  were  in  sight  of 
tiieir  destination,  -^tnl  could  even  see  the  solid,  towering  walls  of  the 
Moro,  rising  higr.  above  the  low-lying  shores  about  Havana.  The  bree/e 
was  fresh  and  fair,  and  all  hands  expected  to  cast  anchor  before  night 
in  the  beautiful  bay,  on  the  .shores  of  which  stands  the  chief  city  of  the 
island  of  fruits  and  spices,  (^n  tli.-  "Baltimore"  the  jackies  were  busily 
at  work  holystoning  the  decks,  until  they  glistened  with  the  milky  white- 
ness dear  to  the  eye  of  the  .sailor  of  the  d.ays  before  tl  ■  era  of  yelhiw 
pine  or  black,  unsightly  iron  .ships.  The  shrouds  and  standing  rigging 
had    been   jujlled    taut    with     many   u    "  Vo,    heave    ho ! "    until    the    wind 


72 


HLUK-JACKKIS   OV    i8i2. 


hummed   plaintively  throutjh  the  taut  conlaj^'e,  as  throufjjh  the  rcsoun(lin<; 

strinj;s  of  an  .Molian  harp.     The  brasswork  and   polished  breeches  of  the 

guns  were  polished  by  the  vigor- 
ous rubbing  by  muscular  sailors, 
until  they  shone  again.  All  told 
of  a  comiiig  season  in  a  friendly 

p(Ut. 

While  the  work  of  prepara- 
tion for  port  was  thus  going 
busily  on,  the  lookout  hailed 
the  deck,  and  reported  a  scpiad- 
roii  in  sight.  A  moment's  glance 
convinced  Capt.  i'hillips  that 
the  strangers  were  Hritish  war- 
vessels  ;  and,  as  they  were  still 
accustomed  to  annoy  American 
merchantmen,  he  hastily  sig- 
nalled his  ct)r.voy  to  carry  sail 
hard,  and  make  port  before  the 
1  Britislicame  up,  while 

the  "  Haltimore  "  bore 
u|)  to  speak  to  the 
Hritish  commodore. 

Ikfore  the  mer- 
chantmen muld  es- 
cape, however,  the 
Hritish  cut  off  three 
of  them,  under  some 
peculiar  and  mistaken 
iileas  of  the  law  of  blockatles.  More  than  this,  when  Capt.  I'hillips  paiil 
his  visit  to  the  l-.nglish  commodore  in  the  tatter's  cabin,  he  was  lalmly 
informed  that  it  was  intended  to  take  from  the  "  Haltimore"  into  the  Hritish 
service  every  sailor  who  had  not  a  regular  American  protection  ;   this  under 


rni:  iiurri^it  m.ii  \i>i<on. 


IILUK-JACKKTS  Ol'    1812. 


73 


the  new  ICnj;Iish  doctrine,  that  every  sailor  was  an  I-ln^Hshnian  unless 
proved  to  be  (jtherwise.  Tiie  avowal  by  the  Hritish  captain  of  this  intention 
tilleil  I'liillips  with  indij;nation,  anil  he  warmly  protested  against  any 
such  action.  It  would,  Ik  insisted,  be  an  outrage  on  the  dignity  of  the 
nation  which  he  served  ;  and,  lis  the  overpowering  force  of  the  Hritish 
rendered  resistance  impossible,  he  should  insist  upon  surrendering  his 
ship  should  they  persist  in  their  undertaking,  which  was  no  more  nor 
less  than  open  warfare.  With  this  he  arose  from  his  seat,  and  leaving 
the  cabin,  to  which  he  had  been  invited  us  the  guest  of  a  friendly  nation, 
returned  to  his  own  ship. 

llcn'  he  found  a  state  of  affairs  that  still  further  added  to  his  indig- 
nation. At  tlie  foot  of  the  gangway  of  tiie  "llaltimore"  tloated  a  boat 
from  one  of  the  Hritish  ships,  and  on  the  deck  of  the  sloop  was  a  lieu- 
tenant in  IJritish  uniform  in  the  act  of  mustering  the  American  crew. 
Cajit  l'hilli|)s  at  once  seized  the  muster-roll,  and  ordered  the  officious 
Hriton  to  walk  to  leeward,  while  the  crew  of  the  "  Haltimore  "  were  sent 
to  their  ipiarters. 

Jiut,  having  done  this,  he  became  doubtful  as  to  the  course  for  him 
to  pursue.  Successful  resistance  was  out  of  the  question ;  for  he  was 
surroumled  by  five  Hritish  vessels,  one  of  which  carried  ninety-eight 
guns,  wlule  the  smallest  mounted  thirty-two,  or  twelve  more  »''in  the 
"Haltimore."  ICven  had  the  oilds  against  him  been  less  g'cat,  Capt. 
i'hillip?.  IcU  grave  iloubts  as  to  his  authority  to  resist  any  armed  vessel. 
lie  iiad  sai'  d  under  instructions  that  "the  vessels  of  every  other  nation 
{l''rance  excepted)  are  on  no  account  to  be  molested  ;  and  I  wish  par- 
ticular!) to  impress  upon  your  mind,"  wrote  the  Secretary  of  the  Xavv, 
"that  should  \ou  ever  see  an  American  vessel  captured  by  the  armed 
ship  nt  any  nation  at  wai',  with  whom  we  are  at  peace,  you  cannot  law- 
fully i-nerfere,  for  it  is  to  be  taken  for  granted  that  such  nation  will 
compensate  for  such  capture,  if  it  should  prove  to  have  been  illegally 
made."  After  simie  deliberation  over  this  clause  in  his  instructions, 
Ca|)t.  Phillips  concluded  that  for  him  to  make  t:ven  a  formal  resistance 
woulil   be  illegal  :  and   accordingly  the  Hag  of  the  "  Haltimore "  was   low- 


1 


ii 


74 


HLUK-JACKKTS  Ol-    1S12. 


L-rcd,  and  tlic  Hritish  were  told  that  the  ship  was  at  their  di'"»  They 

iniinetliately  seized  upon  fifty-five  men  from  the  Amerii  •  .cw,  who 
were  taken  away  to  the  liritish  fleet.  Hut  in  this  wholesale  impressment 
they  did  not  persist.  I'"ifly  of  the  men  were  sent  back  ;  and  the  squadron 
set  sail,  carrying;  away  the  fi'.e  pressed  men,  and  leavinj^  the  nio'i  of  the 
"  Haltimore,"  from  the  captain  down  to  the  smallest  cabin-boy,  smartinj; 
under  the  sense  of  an  indignity  and  insult  offered  to  the  flag  under  which 
they  served. 

Capt.  Phillips  hoisted  his  flag  again,  and  continued  his  cruise.  News 
travelled  slowly  in  those  days  ;  and  the  tidings  of  this  latest  Hritish  insult 
did  not  reach  the  United  States  until  the  "  Baltimore,"  returning  home, 
brought  it  herself.  Hardly  had  the  ship  reached  port,  when  Capt.  Phil- 
lips hastened  to  Philadelphia,  then  the  national  capital,  and  laid  his 
report  of  the  affair  before  the  Governmerit.  In  a  week's  lime,  without 
even  the  formality  of  a  trial,  he  was  dismissed  from  the  navy. 

After  the  lapse  of  more  than  eighty  years  it  is  impossible  to  look 
back  upon  this  affair  without  indignation,  mortification,  antl  regret.  That 
the  na\al  officers  of  (ireat  liritain  should  have  been  able,  by  the  mere 
force  of  arms,  to  inflict  so  cruel  an  insult  upon  our  flag,  can  but  armise 
indignation  in  the  breast  of  every  true  American.  And  the  humiliation 
was  great  enough,  without  having  added  to  it  the  obviously  hasty  and 
unjust  action  of  the  authorities,  in  dismissing,  without  a  trial,  an  officer 
who  had  faithfully  servetl  his  country.  It  is  indeed  possible  that  Capt. 
Phillips  erred  gravely  in  his  course;  but  justice  alone  demanded  for  him 
a  fair  trial,  and  the  nature  of  his  instructions  certainly  afforded  him 
some  justification  for  his  action. 

The  years  that  ojiened  the  nineteenth  century  were  full  of  events  that 
e.xerted  the  greatest  influence  over  the  growth  of  the  United  .States. 
The  continuance  of  the  Napoleonic  wars  in  Pairope,  our  own  war  with  the 
Harbary  powers,  the  accpiisition  of  Louisiana,  —  all  these  had  their  effect 
on  the  growth  of  the  young  Republic  of  the  West.  Hut,  at  the  same  time, 
ICngland  was  continuing  her  i)olicy  of  oppression.  I  ler  cruisers  and  priva- 
teers swarmed  upon  the  ocean  ;   and  impressment  of  seamen   and   seizure 


IMAK-JACKI/I'S   OF    iSi.'. 


75 


of  vessels  became  so  common,  that  in  1X06  memorials  and  petitions  from 
seamen  and  mevchants  of  the  seaport  towns  poured  in  upon  Conj;ress, 
l)e^j;in^  that  body  to  take  some  action  to  save  American  commerce  from 
total  destruction.  Conj^ress  directed  the  American  minister  in  London 
to  i)rotest  ;  but  to  no  avail.  ICven  while  the  correspondence  on  the  subject 
was  beiui;  carried  on,  tin-  Hritish  ^ave  renewed  e\idence  of  tiuir  iiosliiity 
to  tiie'.r  former  Colonies,  and  their  scorn  for  the  military  or  naval  power 
of  the  L'nited  States,  l-'rom  the  far-off  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  came 
tile  news  that  boats  from  the  fleet  of  the  Mritish  Admiral  Collin-iwood 
had  boarded  the  L'nited  Slates  j^unboat  No.  7,  and  taken  fnmi  her  lliree 
sailors,  under  the  pretence  that  they  were  I'!nj;lisliinen.  lUit  an  occurrence 
that  shortly  followed,  nearer  home,  threw  this  affair  into  oblivion,  and  sf='" 
further  inllamed  the  national  hatred  of  the   ICnyli.sh. 

A  small  coastinj;  sloop,  one  of  hundreds  that  made  voyages  aloni;  the 
American  coast  from  Portland  to  .Savannah,  was  running;  p:i>l  .Sands 
Hook  into  New  York  Hay,  when  siie  was  hailed  by  the  Hritish  ship 
"  Leander,"  aiid  ordered  to  heave  to.  The  captain  of  the  coaster  paid 
no  attention  to  the  order,  and  continued  on  his  way,  until  a  shot  from 
the  cruiser  crashed  into  the  sloop,  and  took  off  the  head  of  the  cap- 
tain, John  i'earce  of  \l\v  York.  This  was  murder,  and  the  action  of 
the  Hritish  in  (irinj;  upon  the  sloop  was  gros.s  piracy.  Such  an  outra-e, 
(tccurrinj;  m)  near  the  chief  city  of  the  United  States,  aroused  a  stomi 
of  indi-nation.  The  merchants  of  New  York  held  meetin-s  at  the  old 
Tontine  Coffee-llouse,  and  denounced  not  only  the  action  of  the  Hriti>h 
cruiser,  but  even  imjieached  the  (Jovernment  of  the  United  States;  de- 
clanu!;  that  an  atlministration  which  suffered  forei};n  armed  ships  to 
"impress,  wouml,  and  murder  citi/ens  was  not  entitled  t<>  the  confidence 
of  a  brave  and  free  people."  The  fact  thai  the  ca|)tain  of  the  offemlin.n 
cruiser,  on  beini;  brought  to  trial  in  lui^land,  was  honorably  acquitted, 
did  i\ot   tend  to  soothe  the  irrttation  of  the  Americans. 

(X'currences  such  a*  this  kept  alive  the  American  dislike  for  the  Vav^- 
lish,  and  a  year  late^  an  event  happened  which  even  the  most  ardent 
peace-lover  could   not  but  condemn  and  resent  with  spirit. 


! 


i    i 


76 


IJlXK-JACKirrs  OF    1.S12. 


In  i.S(>7  ilif  Initc'd  States  fri;,Mte  "Chesapeake,"  then  lyinj;  at  the 
navy-yard  at  Washington,  was  put  in  cdmmission,  and  ordered  to  the  Medi- 
terranean, to  relieve  the  "Constitution."  Nearly  a  month  was  consumed 
in  makin;^  neeessary  rejjairs  to  hull  and  cordage,  takinj;  in  stores,  shipj)injf 
a  crew,  anil  attendin;;  to  the  thousand  and  one  details  of  preparation  for 
sea  tliat  a  lon^  time  out  of  commission  makes  necessary  to  a  man-of-war. 
W'iiile  the  i»reparations  for  service  were  actively  proceeding,  the  liritish 
minister  informed  the  naval  authorities  that  three  deserters  from  I  lis  Ihilish 
Majesty's  ship  "Melampus"  had  joined  the  crew  of  the  "Chesapeake;" 
and  it  was  reipiested  tii.it  they  should  l)e  j;iven  up.  The  recpiest  was 
made  with  due  courtesy ;  and,  although  there  is  no  principle  of  inter- 
national l.iw  which  directs  the  surrender  of  deserters,  yet  the  Cnited 
States,  as  a  friendly  nation,  was  inclined  to  '^r;\u{  the  recpiest,  and  an 
in(|uiry  was  made  into  the  case.  The  facts  elicited  put  the  surrender  of 
the  men  oin  of  llu'  (piestion  ;  for  thouj^h  they  frankly  confessed  to  have 
deserted  from  the  "  Melampus,"  yet  they  claimed  to  h.ive  been  impressed 
into  the  Hrilish  service,  and  proved  conclusively  that  they  were  free 
Americans.  This  was  reported  to  the  Hritish  minister;  ami,  as  he  maile 
no  further  protests,  it  was  assumed  that   he  was  satisfied. 

Some  weeks  I.iiei  the  vessel  left  the  navy-yard,  and  dropped  down  the 
river  to  llamptun  Roads.  I'.vi-n  with  the  Ion;;  period  occu|*ied  in  prepa- 
ration for  se.i,  t!u'  armament  of  the  ship  was  far  from  heiii;;  in  order;  a 
fact  first  discovered  as  she  passed  Mount  X'ernon,  as  she  w.is  unable  to 
fire  the  salutr  with  which  ;it  that  tin)e  all  passinj;  war-vessels  did  honor 
to  the  lond)  o|  WashiiiLjton,  After  some  davs'  stay  at  Hampton  Roads, 
(lurinLj  which  time  addition, d  ;;ims  and  t-tores  were  taken  on,  and  the 
crew  increaseil  to  three  lumdrid  anil  seventy-five  men,  the  ship  ;;ot  under 
wav,  and  started  on    her  vo\ane- 

It  was  on  a  bn  ivy  nmrnin;;  of  June  that  the  "Chesapeake"  left  the 
broad  harbor  of  Hampton  Roads,  the  scene  of  so  many  of  our  naval 
j;lories.  l-iom  tlie  masthead  of  the  fri;;ate  floated  the  broad  |)ennant  of 
Commodori'  U.uicin,  who  wi-nt  out  in  command  of  the  ship.  The  decks 
were    littered  with    ropes,  lumber,  a/ul  stores,  which   had   arrived  too  late 


IILUK-JACKKTS   Ol-    1S12. 


/  / 


to  l)t'  properly  stowcil  away.  Sonic  confusion  is  l)ut  natural  on  a  ship 
starting;  on  a  cruise  which  may  continue  for  years,  hut  the  condition  of 
the  "  Chesapeake  "  was  beyond  all  excuse;  a  fact  for  which  the  fittinji-oul 
officers,  not  her  commander,  ivere  responsible. 

As  the  American  ship  passed  out  into  the  open  ocean,  there  was  a 
great  stir  on  the  decks  of  four  ICn^dish  cruisers  that  lay  quietly  at  anchor 
in  Lynn  Haven  Hay;  ami  almost  immediately  one  of  these  vessels  hoisted 
her  anchor,  set  her  sails,  and  started  out  in  the  track  of  the  fri;;ate.  A 
stiff  head-wind  blowini;,  the  American  was  forced  to  tack  fre(|uently,  in 
order  to  get  ahead  ;  and  her  officers  noticed  that  the  British  ship  (the 
"Leopard,"  of  fifty  guns)  tacked  at  the  same  time,  and  was  evidently 
following  doggedly  in  the  wake  of  the  "  Chesajieake."  No  suspicion  that 
the  pursuer  had  other  than  peaceful  motives  in  view  entered  the  minds 
of  ilie  American  officers;  and  the  ship  kept  on  her  course,  while  the 
sailors  set  about  putting  the  decks  in  order,  and  getting  the  vessel  in 
tiiiii  for  her  long  voyage.  W'lule  all  hands  were  thus  busily  engaged, 
ilie  "Leopard"  b.>r.-  down  rapidly,  and  soon  hailed,  saying  that  she  hail 
a  des])atch  for  Commodore  Harron,  The  "  Chesaiieake  "  accordingly  hove 
to.  and  waited  for  a  boat  to  be  sent  aboard. 

The  two  ships  now  lay  broadside  to  broadside,  and  only  about  a  half 
pistol-shot  apart.  .\o  idea  that  the  Lnglishman  had  any  hostile  designs 
seems  to  have  occurreil  to  ComiiKnlore  Harron  ;  but  some  of  the  younger 
olficers  noticed  that  the  ports  of  the  "Leopard"  were  triced  up,  and  the 
tnm|)ions  taken  out  of  the  muz/les  of  the  cannon.  The  latter  fact  was 
»il  ilu'  gravest  import,  and  should  have  been  reported  at  once  to  the 
cijininander ;  but   it  appears  that  this  was  not  done. 

Ill  a  few  moments  a  boat  put  off  from  the  "Leopard,"  and  pulled  to 
till-  .\merican  ship,  where  an  officer  stooil  waiting  at  the  gangway,  and 
conducted  the  visitor  to  Harron's  caoin.  Here  the  luiglish  lieutenant  pro- 
iluceil  an  order,  signed  by  the  Hrilish  Admiral  Merkeley,  commanding  all 
Hritish  ships  to  watch  for  the  "  Chesapeake,"  and  search  her  for  de.si.'rters. 
Coniniodore  Harroii  immediately  responded,  that  the  "Chesapeake"  har- 
boroil  no  deserters,  and  he  could  not  permit  ids  crew  to  be  mustered  by 


m 


78 


i!i,ri;-i\("Ki;rs  or  isi.-. 


llu-  (iffuiT  nf  ;iny  forci;;n  power.  lliiKlly  li;ul  this  ii-sponsc  been  made,  when 
a  si;;nal  frmii  tlie  "  I.i'npard"  leialled  the  hnardin;;  nrfu'iT  to  his  sliip. 

The  iiHiids  ol  tlie  "  (  hrsapeake "  wi'ie  ixtw  fully  aroused  to  the 
danj;ers  nf  ilu-  situaticiii,  and  hri^an  the  attempt  to  -;et  the  ship  in  n-adi- 
ness  fof  aetion.  ('MninKidoie  Harron.  eomin;;  out  of  his  eal)in  for  the  lii.st 
tinie,  was  tonihlv  struck  hv  the  air  n(  preparation  for  aetinn  presented 
1)\  tin-  "  I.i'opanl.  "  (apt.  (inKJun,  the  seeond  in  eommand,  was  ordered 
tn  hasten  the  work  on  the  ;;iin-deik,  and  call  tlie  crew  to  (jiiarteis.  I'he 
ilnuiuncrs  i)e;.;an  tu  heat  the  eal!  to  (piarters,  hut  hastv  orders  soon 
Stopped  ihein  ;  and  the  men  went  tn  their  plaees  (piietly,  hoping  that  the 
threatenin;^  attitude  nf    the  "I.enpard"   was   n)ere  bravado. 

Tile  nin',t  painful  .suspense  was  frit  bv  all  on  board  the  Anieriean 
ship.  The  attitude  of  the  "I,in|)ard"  left  little  doubt  of  her  hostile 
intentions,  while  a  j;lanre  about  the  decks  of  the  "  C'lusapeake  "  tnld  how 
little  fitted  she  was  to  enter  into  action.  Iler  crew  was  a  new  one.  ne\er 
e.xercised  at  the  ,L;uns,  and  had  been  mustered  to  cpiarters  only  three 
times.  (  )n  the  j;un-deck  lav  j;real  piles  of  eimibrous  cables,  from  the 
eoilini;  of  which  the  men  had  been  sunnnnned  by  the  call  to  cpiarters. 
( )n  the  after-deck  were  piles  of  furnituie,  trunks,  and  some  temporary 
jiantries,  W'iiat  little  semblance  of  order  there  w.is,  was  due  to  the  eltorts 
of  one  of  tlie  lieutenants,  who,  suspeetiiij;  trouble  when  the  "  Leopard  " 
lirst  came  up,  had  made  ^;real  exertions  toward  ^a-ttin;;  the  ship  clear. 
While  the  captain  stood  loo'  in;;  ruefully  at  the  confusion,  still  more 
.seiinus  ijoubles  were  reported.  Tin-  K""''  \\*-'ii^"  loaded;  but  no  rammers, 
powdi-r-tlasks,  matches,  wa.ds,  01  mm-lotk.s  coulil  be  found.  While  search 
was  beiiif;  nnde  for  these  necessary  articles,  a  liail  came  from  the  "  Leo|)ard." 
Commodore  Harron  shouted  back  that   he  did  not   understand. 

"Commodore  Ikirron  must  be  aw.iri-  that  the  orders  of  the  \ice-admiral 
must    be  obe\ed,"  came  the  hail  a^ain. 

n.irron  a.i;a\n  responded  that  he  did  not  understand.  Afier  one  or  two 
repetitions,  the  Hritish  determined  to  waste  no  more  time  in  talkin;.; ; 
and  a  sin;;Ie  shot  tired  from  the  bow  of  the  "Leopard"  was  (piickly 
followed   by  a  full   broadside.     The   heavy  shcjl   crashed   into  the  sides   of 


« 


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THE  CHESAPEAKE  AND  THE  LEOPAKD 


lU-UK-JACKKIS   OF    iSi; 


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the  "Chesapeake,"  wmjiulin;;  many  of  the  men,  and  adding'  to  the  ion- 
fusion  on  the  t;un-deck.  No  answer  came  from  the  American  fri^^ate ; 
for,  thon}/;h  the  guns  were  loaded,  there  was  no  way  of  fuinj;  them. 
Matches,  h)cks,  or  loggeriieads  were  nowhere  to  he  foiM'd.  Mad  witli 
rage  at  the  helpless  condition  in  whicli  they  foimd  themselves,  the  ofTuers 
made  every  effort  to  lire  at  least  one  volley.  Pokers  were  heated  W(\- 
hot  in  the  galley-fire,  and  carried  hastily  to  the  guns,  but  cooled  too 
rapidly  in  the  rush  across  the  dock.  In  the  mean  tinu',  the  "  Leopard." 
none  too  chivalric  to  take  advantage  of  an  unresisting  foe,  had  chosen 
her  position,  and  was  pouring  in  a  deliberate  fire.  I-'or  nearly  eighteen 
minutes  the  fire  was  continued,  when  the  (lag  of  the  "Chesapeake"  was 
hauled  down.  Just  as  it  came  fluttering  from  the  masthead,  Lieut.  Allen, 
crying,  "I'll  have  one  shot  at  those  rascals,  anyhow,"  ran  to  tiie  galley, 
picked  up  ;i  live  coal  in  his  fingers,  and  carried  it,  regardless  of  the  |)ain. 
to  the  nearest  gun,  which  was  successfully  discharged.  This  was  the  oidy 
shot  that  the  "  Chesapeake  '  fired  during  the  affair,  —  battle  it  cannot  be 
calleil. 

A  boat  with  two  Hritish  lieutenants  and  several  midshipmen  on  board 
speedily  boarded  the  "  Chesapeake,"  and  the  demand  for  the  deserters  was 
renewed.  I'\)ur  seamen  were  seized,  ami  borne  away  in  triumph  ;  but  the 
British  commander  refused  to  receive  the  shij)  as  a  prize,  and  even  went 
so  far  as  to  express  his  regret  at  the  loss  of  life,  and  proffer  his  aid  in 
repairing  the  damages.  Hoth  sympathy  and  assistance  were  indignantly 
rejected  ;  and  the  disgraced  shi|>  went  sullenly  back  to  Norfolk,  bearing 
a  sorely  mortified  body  of  officers  and  seamen.  Of  the  four  kidnapped 
.sailors,  it  may  be  stated  here,  that  one  was  hanged,  and  the  other  three 
forced  to  enter  the  HritisVi  service,  in  which  one  died,  lli^  comrades, 
five  years  later,  were  restored  to  the  ileck  of  the  ship  from  which  they 
had  been  taken. 

The  news  of  this  event  spread  like  wildfire  over  the  country,  and 
caused  rage  and  resentment  wherever  it  was  known.  Cities,  towns, 
and  villages  called  for  revenge.  The  President  issued  a  proclamation, 
complaining  of  the  habitual  insolence  of  British  cruisers,  .and  ordering  all 


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BLUE-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


such  vessels  to  leave  American  waters  forthwith.  As  in  the  reduced 
state  of  the  navy  it  was  impossible  to  enforce  this  order,  he  forbade  all 
citizens   of  the   United    States   to  give  aid   to,   or  have   any  intercourse 


LIEUT.   ALLEN   FIRES  A  SHOT. 

with,  any  such  vessels  or  their  crews.  War  measures  were  taken  both 
by  the  Federal  and  State  Governments.  As  usual,  the  popular  wrath  was 
vented  upon  the  least  culpable  of  the  people  responsible  for  the  condition 
of  the  "Chesapeake."  Commodore  Barron  was  tried  by  court-martial,  and 
sentenced  to  five  years'  suspension  from  the  service,  without  pay.  The 
cool  judgment  of   later  years  perceives  the  unjustness  of  this  sentence, 


\ 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


8- 


but  its  execution  cast  a  deep  shadow  over  the  remainder  of  the  unhappy 
officer's  life. 

For  some  years  after  this  episode,  little  occurred  to  change  the  rela- 
tions of  the  two  nations.  The  war  spirit  grew  slowly,  and  was  kept 
alive  by  the  occasional  reports  of  impressments,  or  the  seizure  of  Ameri- 
can ships  by  British  privateers.  The  navy  held  its  place  amid  the  national 
defences,  although  a  plan  devised  by  President  Jefferson  came  near  putting 
an  end  to  the  old  organization.  This  plan  provided  for  the  construction 
of  great  numbers  of  small  gunboats,  which  should  be  stationed  along 
the  coast,  to  be  called  out  only  in  case  of  attack  by  an  armed  enemy. 
A  contemporary  writer,  describing  the  beauties  of  this  system,  wrote, 
"  Whenever  danger  shall  menace  any  harbor,  or  any  foreign  ship  shall 
insult  us,  somebody  is  to  inform  the  governor,  and  the  governor  is  to 
desire  the  marshal  to  call  upon  the  captains  of  militia  to  call  upon  the 
drummers  to  beat  to  arms,  and  call  the  militia  men  together,  from  whom 
are  to  be  drafted  (not  impressed)  a  sufficient  number  to  go  on  board 
the  gunboats,  and  drive  the  hostile  stranger  away,  unless  during  this 
long  ceremonial  he  should  have  taken  himself  off."  Fortunately  the 
gunboat  system  did  not  work  the  total  extinction  of  the  old  na\y. 

In  181 1  the  British  aggressions  began  again,  and  the  situation  became 
more  and  more  warlike.  So  bold  had  the  privateers  become,  that  tlicy 
captured  a  richly  laden  vessel  within  thirty  miles  of  New  York.  Shortly 
after,  the  British  frigate  "  Guerriere  "  stopped  an  American  brig  eightcet. 
miles  from  New  York,  and  took  from  her  a  young  sailor.  The  sea  was 
running  very  rough,  anrl  a  stiff  breeze  blowing,  when  the  "  Spitfire  "  was 
halted  by  the  frigate  ;  but  the  American  captain  went  with  the  captured 
lad  to  the  war-vessel,  and  assured  the  commander  that  he  had  known  the 
young  man  as  a  native  of  Maine  from  his  boyhood.  The  reply  was,  "  All 
that  may  be  .so  ;  but  he  has  no  protection,  and  that  is  enough  for  me." 
With  these  memories  fresh,  it  is  not  surprising  that  Americans  rejoiced 
when  the  news  of  an  encounter  terminating  in  favor  of  the  United  States 
ship  was  received. 

On    May   7,    181 1,   the    United    States    frigate    "President"   was    lying 


II  !i 


11    I 


N; 


''  s 


f 


84 


BLUE-JACKPrrS   OF    181 2. 


quietly  at  anchor  off  Fort  Severn,  Annapolis.  Every  thing  betokened  a 
state  of  perfect  peace.  The  muzzles  of  the  great  guns  were  stopped  by 
tompions.  The  ports  were  down.  In  the  rigging  of  the  vessel  hung 
garments  drying  in  the  sun.  At  the  side  floated  half  a  dozen  boats. 
Many  of  the  crew  were  ashore  on  leave.  The  sailing-master  was  at  Bal- 
timore, and  the  chaplain  and  purser  were  at  Washington.  From  the 
masthead  floated  the  broad  pennant  of  Commodore  Rodgers,  but  he  was 
with  his  family  at  Havre  de  Grace ;  and  the  executive  officer,  Capt.  Lud- 
low, was  dining  on  the  sloop-of-war  "  Argus,"  lying  near  at  hand.  But 
the  captain's  dinner  was  destined  to  be  interrupted  that  bright  May 
afternoon ;  for  in  the  midst  of  the  repast  a  midshipman  entered,  and 
reported  that  the  commodore's  gig  was  coming  up  rapidly,  with  Rodgers 
himself  on  board.  The  dinner  party  was  hastily  broken  up,  and  the 
captain  returned  to  his  ship  to  receive  his  superior  offlcer.  On  his 
arrival,  Commodore  Rodgers  said  that  he  had  received  orders  to  chase 
the  frigate  that  had  impressed  the  sailor  from  the  "  Spitfire,"  and  insist 
upon  the  man's  being  liberated,  if  he  could  prove  his  citizenship.  This 
was  good  news  for  every  man  on  the  frigate.  At  last,  then,  the  United 
States  was  going  to  protect  its  sailors. 

Three  days  were  spent  in  getting  the  crew  together  and  preparing  for 
sea ;  then  the  stately  frigate,  with  all  sails  set  and  colors  flying,  weighed 
anchor,  and  stood  down  the  Chesapeake  with  the  intention  of  cruising 
near  New  York.  She  had  been  out  on  the  open  ocean  only  a  day,  when 
the  lookout,  from  his  perch  in  the  crosstrees,  reported  a  strange  sail  on 
the  horizon.  The  two  vessels  appoached  each  other  rapidly ;  and,  as  the 
stranger  drew  near,  Rodgers  saw,  by  the  squareness  of  her  yards  and 
the  general  trim,  symmetrical  cut  of  her  sails,  that  she  was  a  war-vessel. 
Perhaps  she  may  be  the  offender,  thought  he,  and  watched  eagerly  her 
approach. 

As  the  stranger  came  up,  the  "President"  set  her  broad  pennant  and 
ensign ;  on  seeing  which  the  stranger  hoisted  several  signal  flags,  the 
significance  of  which  was  not  understood  by  the  Americans.  Finding  her 
signals  unanswered,  the  stranger  wore  ship,  and  bore  away  to  the  south- 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


85 


ward,  hotly  followed  by  the  "President."  During  dl  these  manaHivres, 
Rodgers's  suspicion  of  the  strange  vessel  had  increased  ;  and  her  apparent 
flight  only  convinced  him  the  more  of  the  hostile  character  of  the 
stranger.  It  was  a  stern  chase  and  a  long  one,  for  at  the  outset 
the  stranger  was  hull  dov.rn  on  the  horizon.  After  an  hour  it  became 
evident  that  the  "  President "  was  gaining,  for  the  hull  of  the  fugitive 
was  plainly  seen.  The  breeze  then  died  away,  so  that  night  had  fallen 
over  the  waters  before  the  .ships  were  within  hailing  distance. 

A  little  after  eight  in  the  evening  the  "  President "  was  within  a 
hundred  yards  of  the  chase,  which  could  be  seen,  a  dark  mass  with 
bright  lights  shining  through  the  rows  of  open  ports,  rushing  through 
the  water  directly  ahead.  Rodgers  sprang  upon  the  taffrail,  and  put- 
ting a  speaking-trumpet  to  his  lips,  shouted,  "  What  ship  is  that  ? " 
A  dead  silence  followed.  Those  on  the  "  President "  listened  intently 
for  the  answer ;  but  no  sound  was  heard  save  the  sigh  of  the  wind 
through  the  cordage,  the  creaking  of  the  spars,  and  the  rush  of  the 
water  alongside.  Rodgers  hailed  again  ;  and,  before  the  sound  of  his 
words  had  died  away,  a  quick  flash  of  fire  leaped  from  the  stern-ports  of 
the  chase,  and  a  shot  whizzed  through  the  rigging  of  the  "President," 
doing  some  slight  damage.  Rodgers  sprang  to  the  deck  to  order  a  shot 
in  return  ;  but,  before  he  could  do  sc..  a  too  eager  gunner  pulled  the 
lanyard  of  his  piece  in  the  second  division  of  the  "President's"  battery. 
The  enemy  promptly  answered  with  three  guns,  and  then  let  fly  a  whole 
broadside,  with  discharges  of  musketry  from  the  deck  and  the  tops. 
This  exhausted  Rodgers's  patience.  "  Equally  determined,"  said  he  after- 
wards, "  not  to  be  the  aggressor,  or  to  suffer  the  flag  of  my  country  to 
be  insulted  with  impunity,  I  gave  a  general  order  to  fire."  This  time 
there  was  no  defect  in  the  ordnance  or  the  gunnery  of  the  American 
ship.  The  thunderous  broadsides  rang  out  at  regular  intervals,  and  the 
aim  of  the  gunners  was  deliberate  and  deadly.  It  was  too  dark  to  see 
what  effect  the  fire  was  having  on  the  enemy,  but  in  five  minutes  her 
responses  began  to  come  slowly  and  feebly.  Unwilling  to  continue  his 
attack   on  a  ship  evidently   much    his    inferior    in   size    and    armament, 


I  ■ 


mi  .. 


i  1 


i  \ 


86 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


Rotlgers   ordered   the  gunners  to  cease  firing ;   but  this  had  hardly  been 
done  when  the   stranger  opened  again.     A  second   time  the  guns  of  the 


COMMOUORE   KODGERS   HAILS. 


"  President "  were  run  out,  and  again   they  began   their  cannonade.     The 
stranger  was   soon    silenced  again  ;  and  Commodore  Rodgers   hailed,  that 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


87 


he  might  learn  the  name  of  his  adversary.  In  answer  came  a  voice 
from  the  other  vessel,  — 

"We  are  his  Majesty's  ship  ."     A  gust   of  wind   carried  away  the 

name,  and  Rodgers  was  still  in  doubt  as  to  whom  he  had  been  fighting. 
Hoisting  a  number  of  bright  lights  in  her  rigging,  that  the  stranger  might 
know  her  whereabouts,  the  "President"  stood  off  and  on  during  the 
night,  ready  to  give  aid  to  the  disabled  ship  in  case  of  need. 

At  early  dawn  every  officer  was  on  deck,  anxious  to  learn  the  fate  of 
their  foe  of  the  night  before.  Far  in  the  distance  they  could  sec  a  ship, 
whose  broken  cordage  and  evident  disorder  showed  her  to  have  been 
the  other  party  to  the  fight.  A  boat  from  the  "  President "  visited  the 
stranger,  to  learn  her  name  and  to  proffer  aid  in  repairing  the  damages 
received  in  the  action.  The  ship  proved  to  be  the  British  sloop-of-war 
"  Little  Belt ; "  and  her  captain  stated  that  she  was  much  damaged  in  her 
masts,  sails,  rigging,  and  hull,  and  had  been  cut  several  times  between 
wind  and  water.  He  declined  the  proffered  aid,  however,  and  sailed 
away  to  Halifax,  the  nearest  British  naval  station.  Commodore  Rodgers 
took  the  "President"  to  the  nearest  American  port. 

When  the  "  President "  reached  home,  and  the  news  of  her  exploit 
became  known,  the  exultation  of  the  people  was  great,  and  their  com- 
mendations o):  Rodgers  loud.  ''At  last,"  they  cried,  "we  have  taught 
I'>ngland  a  lesson.  The  insult  to  the  'Chesapeake'  is  now  avenged." 
Rodgers  protested  that  he  had  been  forced  unwillingly  into  the  combat, 
but  his  admirers  insisted  that  he  had  left  port  with  the  intention  of 
humbling  the  pride  of  some  British  ship.  Indeed,  the  letter  of  an  officer 
on  the  "President,"  printed  in  "The  New  York  Herald"  at  the  time,  rather 
supported  this  theory.  "By  the  officers  who  came  from  Washington," 
wrote  this  gentleman,  "we  learn  that  we  are  sent  in  pursuit  of  a  British 
frigate,  who  had  impressed  a  passenger  from  a  coaster.  Yesterday,  while 
beating  down  the  bay,  we  spoke  a  brig  coming  up,  who  informed  us  that 
she  saw  the  British  frigate  the  day  before  off  the  very  place  where  we 
now  are  ;  but  she  is  not  now  in  sight.  We  have  made  the  most  com- 
plete preparations  for  battle.     Every  one  wishes  it.     She  is  exactly  our 


'■    li 


>l 


LU' 


(ill 

M  ! 

I'M 


88 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


force  ;  but  we  have  the  "  Argus  "  with  us,  which  none  of  us  are  pleased 
with,  as  we  wish  a  fair  trial  of  courage  and  skill.  Should  we  see  her, 
I  have  not  the  least  doubt  of  an  engagement.  The  commodore  will 
demand  the  person  impressed  ;  the  demand  will  doubtless  be  refused,  and 
the  battle  will  instantly  commence.  .  .  .  The  commodore  has  called  in  the 
boatswain,  gunner,  and  carpenter,  informed  them  of  all  circumstances, 
and  asked  if  they  were  ready  for  action.  Ready,  was  the  reply  of 
each." 

No  consequences  beyond  an  intensifying  of  the  war  spirit  in  America 
followed  this  rencounter.  Before  dismissing  the  subject,  however,  it  is 
but  fair  to  state  that  the  account  as  given  here  is  in  substance  Commo- 
dore Rodgers's  version  of  the  matter.  The  British  captain's  report  was 
quite  different.  He  insisted  that  the  "President"  fired  the  first  shot, 
that  the  action  continued  nearly  an  hour,  that  it  was  his  hail  to  which 
no  attention  was  paid,  and  finally  he  intimated  that  the  "President"  hud 
rather  the  worse  of  the  encounter.  The  last  statement  is  easily  disproved, 
for  the  "President"  was  almost  unscathed,  and  the  only  injury  to  her 
people  was  the  slight  wounding  of  a  boy,  in  the  hand.  On  the  "  Little 
Belt,"  thirty-one  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  other  points  led  to  a 
simple  question  of  veracity  between  the  two  oflficers.  Each  government 
naturally  accepted  the  report  of  its  officer;  and,  so  far  as  the  governments 
were  concerned,  the  matter  soon  passed  into  oblivion. 

Not  long  after  this  episode,  a  somewhat  similar  occurrence  took  place, 
but  was  happily  attended  with  no  such  serious  consequences.  The  frig- 
ate "  United  States,"  cruising  under  the  broad  pennant  of  Commodore 
Decatur,  fell  in  with  two  British  ships  near  New  York.  While  the  com- 
manders of  the  vessels  were  amicably  hailing,  a  gun  was  suddenly  fired 
from  the  battery  of  the  "  United  States,"  owing  to  the  carelessness  of 
a  gunner  in  handling  the  lanyard.  It  was  a  critical  moment,  for  the 
British  would  have  been  justified  in  responding  to  the  fire  with  broad- 
sides. Happily,  they  were  cool  and  discreet,  and  Decatur  made  such 
explanations  as  showed  that  no  attack  or  insult  was  intended.  This  little 
incident  is  interesting,  as  showing  the  distrust  of  the  British  which  led 


!:^ 


BLUE-JACKIOTS   OF    1812. 


89 


an  American  captain  to  keep  his  guns  primed  and  cocked,  while  convers- 
ing with  English  men-of-war. 

Another  incident  showed  that  the  hatred  of  the  British  service  that 
prevailed  among  seamen  was  a  matter  of  deep-seated  conviction.  While 
the  United  States  ship  "Esse.x"  was  lying  in  an  English  port,  it  became 
known  that  one  of  her  crew  was  a  deserter  from  the  British  navy,  and 
his  surrender  was  immediately  demanded.  Although  the  man  stoutly 
protested  that  he  was  an  American,  yet  no  proof  could  he  shown  ;  and, 
as  the  ship  was  in  British  waters,  it  was  determined  to  surrender  him. 
A  British  officer  and  squad  of  marines  boarded  the  "  Esse.x  "  and  waited 
on  the  deck  while  the  sailor  went  below  to  get  his  kit.  Bitterly  com- 
plaining of  the  hardness  of  his  fate,  the  poor  fellow  went  along  the  gun- 
decks  until  he  passed  the  carpenter's  bench.  His  eye  fell  upon  an  a.xe  ; 
and  after  a  minute's  hesitation  he  stepped  to  the  bench,  seized  the  axe  in 
his  right  hand,  and  with  one  blow  cut  off  the  left.  Carrying  the  severed 
member  in  his  hand,  he  again  sought  the  deck  and  presented  himself, 
maimed,  bleeding,  and  forever  useless  as  a  sailor,  to  the  British  officer. 
Astonished  and  horrified,  that  worthy  left  the  ship,  and  the  wounded 
man  was  sent  to  the  sick-bay.  The  incident  was  a  forcible  commentary 
on  the  state  of  the  British  service  at  that  time,  and  left  a  deep  impres- 
sion on  the  minds  of  all  beholders. 

In  the  next  contest  over  deserters,  however,  the  Americans  rather 
secured  the  best  of  the  argument.  The  "Constitution"  was  lying  at 
anchor  in  Portsmouth  roads,  when  one  of  the  crew  slily  slipped  overboard 
and  swam  down  with  the  tide  to  the  British  ship  "Madagascar"  that 
lay  at  anchor  near  by.  When  he  had  reached  the  Englishman,  he  was 
too  exhausted  to  speak ;  and  the  officers,  supposing  that  he  had  fallen 
overboard  accidentally,  sent  word  to  the  "  Constitution "  that  her  man 
had  been  saved,  and  awaited  the  orders  of  his  commander.  The  next 
morning  a  boat  was  sent  down  to  the  "  Madagascar "  to  fetch  the  man 
back ;  but,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  visiting  officer,  he  was  told  that 
the  sailor  claimed  to  be  a  British  subject  and  wished  to  escape  from  the 
American  service. 


i 


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III: 


1  (1 

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1  \ 

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- 

90 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


"Have  you  any  evidence,"  asked  the  American  officer  of  the  British 
admiral,   "  beyond  the  man's  own  word,  that  he  is  an  KngHshman  ?  " 

"None  whatever,  sir,"  was  the  response,  "but  we  are  obliged  to  take 
his  declaration  to  that  effect." 

The  American  officer  returned  to  his  ship,  vowing  vengeance  on  the 
harborers  of  the  deserter.     His  opportunity  came  that  very  night. 

In  the  dead  watches  of  the  night,  when  all  was  still  on  deck  save 
the  monotonous  tramp  of  the  sentries,  there  suddenly  rang  out  on  the 
still  air  the  sharp  crack  of  a  musket.  The  officer  of  the  deck  rushed  to 
see  what  was  the  matter,  and  was  shown  a  dark  object  floating  near  the 
ship,  at  which  a  sentry  had  fired.  A  boat  was  lowered  and  soon  came 
back,  bringing  in  it  a  sailor  who  had  deserted  from  the  "  Madagascar," 
and  reached  the  "  Constitution "  by  swimming.  Capt.  Hull  asked  the 
fellow  his  nationality. 

"  Sure,  O'im  a  'Merricun,  your  honor,"  he  answered  in  a  rich  brogue 
that  would  have  branded  him  as  a  Paddy  in  any  part  of  the  world. 
With  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  Hull  sent  the  Irishman  below,  and  told  the 
sailors  to  take  good  care  of  him. 

Early  in  the  morning,  a  boat  came  from  the  "  Madagascar ; "  and  a 
trim  young  lieutenant,  clambering  aboard  the  American  frigate,  politely 
requested  that  the  deserter  be  given  up.  With  great  dignity,  Capt. 
Hull  responded  that  the  man  was  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
should  have  protection.  The  visiting  officer  fairly  gasped  for  breath. 
"  An  American  ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  Why,  the  man  has  never  been  out 
of  Ireland  except  on  a  British  man-of-war." 

"  Indeed ! "  responded  Hull  blandly.  "  But  we  have  his  statement 
that  he  is  an  American,  and  we  are  obliged  to  take  his  declaration  to 
that  effect."     And  the  man  was  never  given  up. 

During  the  day,  two  British  frigates  cast  anchor  so  near  the  "  Con- 
stitution"  that  Capt.  Hull  suspected  them  of  hostile  intentions,  and 
moved  his  ship  to  a  new  anchorage.  A  frigate  followed  closely  in  her 
wake.  At  eight  in  the  evening,  Capt.  Hull  determined  to  meet  the  show 
of  force  with  force.     The  drums  beat,  and  the  men  were  called  to  quar- 


HLUE-JACKETS   OK    1812, 


91 


ters.  The  battle-lanterns  were  lighted  fore  and  aft.  The  tops  were 
crowded  with  sailors,  armed  with  short  carbines,  to  pick  off  the  men  on 
the  enemy's  decks.  Along  the  gun-deck  stood  the  men  at  the  guns  ;  and 
an  officer,  describing  the  scene,  says  they  took  hold  of  the  ropes  as  if 
they  were  about  to  jerk  the  guns  through  the  shi[)'s  sides.  All  were 
enthusiastic  over  the  prospect  of  the  coming  action. 

"Now,  then,  my  lads,"  said  an  officer  to  a  group  of  sailors,  "if  a 
fight  comes  of  this,  it  will  be  in  the  cause  of  you  sailors  ;  and  I  e.vpect 
you  to  fight  like  men." 

"Ay,  ay,  sir,"  was  the  response.  "Let  the  quarter-deck  look  out 
for  the  colors,  and  we'll  keep  the  guns  going." 

All  the  preparations  for  battle  were  made  openly,  and  the  attitude 
taken  by  the  "  Constitution "  was  an  open  challenge.  No  notice  of  it 
was  taken  by  the  British  ship ;  and,  after  maintaining  her  hostile  atti- 
tude for  some  time,  the  "  Constitution "  hoisted  her  anchor,  and  left  the 
harbor. 

The  time  of  the  formal  declaration  of  war  was  now  rapidly  approach- 
ing. The  long  diplomatic  correspondence  between  the  two  nations  had 
failed  to  lead  to  any  amicable  solution  of  the  difficulties  that  were  fast 
urging  them  to  war.  Great  Britain  still  adhered  to  her  doctrine  that  a 
man  once  an  Englishman  was  always  an  English  subject.  No  action  of 
his  own  could  absolve  him  from  allegiance  to  the  flag  under  which  he 
was  born.  Upon  the  trade  of  the  United  States  with  France,  the  Eng- 
lish looked  with  much  the  sentiments  with  which,  during  our  civil  war, 
we  regarded  the  thriving  trade  driven  with  the  Confederacy  by  the  Brit- 
ish blockade-runners.  Upon  these  two  theories  rested  the  hateful  "  right 
of  search  "  and  the  custom  of  impressment. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  views  of  the  United  States  on  these 
questions  were  exactly  contrary  to  those  of  the  English.  Such  vital 
differences  could,  then,  only  be  settled  by  war ;  and  war  was  accordingly 
declared  in  June,  18 12.  It  was  a  bold  step  for  the  young  nation,  but 
there  was  enough  of  plausibility  in  the  English  claims  to  make  it  evident 
that  they  could   never  be  set  aside   by  diplomacy ;   and  so,  with  hardly  a 


!;'  x> 


92 


15LUK-JACKF;1S   of    iSia. 


th()Uj;ht  of  the  odds  a<^ainst  her,  the  United  States  dashed  in  to  win  justice 
at  the  muzzles  of  her  cannon. 

That  tlie  odds  were  tremendous,  is  not  to  lie  denied.  Of  the  miuiary 
stren,L;th  of  the  two  nations,  it  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  book  to  treat. 
Indeed,  a  recountal  of  the  land  battles  of  the  war  of  1813  would  hardly 
be  i^leasant  reading  for  Americans.  It  was  on  the  sea  that  our  laurels 
were  chiefly  won.  Yet,  at  the  time  of  the  declaration  of  war,  the  navy 
of  the  United  States  consisted  of  twenty  vessels,  of  which  the  larj;est 
carried  forty-four  guns,  and  the  majority  rated  under  thirty.  For  years 
this  navy  had  been  a  butt  of  ridicule  for  all  the  luu-opean  naval  powers. 
The  frigate  "Constitution"  was  scornfully  termed  by  an  ICnglish  news- 
l)aper  "  a  bunch  of  pine  boards  sailing  under  a  bit  of  striped  bunting." 
Not  long  after  the  publication  of  this  insolent  jeer,  the  "Constitution" 
lailed  into  an  American  port  with  a  captured  British  frigate  in  tow.  Right 
merrily  then  did  the  Americans  boast  of  their  "bunch  of  pine  boards." 

This  miniature  navy  of  the  United  States  was  about  to  be  pitted 
against  the  greatest  naval  power  of  the  world.  The  rolls  of  the  navy  of 
Great  Britain  bore  at  this  time  the  names  of  over  one  thousand  ships. 
Of  these,  no  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty-four  were  ships-of-the-linc, 
mounting  over  seventy-four  guns  each.  Behind  this  great  navy  were  the 
memories  of  long  years  of  conquests,  of  an  almost  undisputed  supremacy 
upon  the  ocean.  Small  wonder  was  it,  then,  that  the  British  laughed  at 
the  idea  of  the  Americans  giving  battle  to  their  hitherto  unconquered 
ships. 

What,  then,  was  the  secret  of  the  success  which  as  we  shall  see, 
attended  the  American  arms  on  the  sea  .■•  The  answer  is,  that  men,  not 
ships,  carried  the  day.  Yet  Great  Britain  had  the  more  sailors  on  her 
muster-rolls.  True,  but  they  were  only  too  often  unwilling  slaves.  Instead 
of  enlisting,  like  free  men,  they  were  hunted  down  like  brutes  and  forced 
to  enter  the  service.  No  sailor  was  .safe  from  the  press-gang,  and  even 
sober  citizens  were  often  kidnapped  to  serve  the  '  King  '  on  the  ocean. 
From  the  ships  of  other  nations,  from  their  homes  and  from  taverns,  the 
unlucky    sailors    were    dragged    away.     Even    in    the    streets    01    populous 


! 


i     i  i' 


THE   PRESS  GANG. 


Ill 


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liill! 


k 


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f  ■■ 


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■■iiii  iy|ii  ■ii.uji    I  i>^li'iMi»iirmrii-. — iiiBi~— nyr 


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\. 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


95 


cities,  they  were  not  safe ;  ai  d  it  was  no  uncommon  sight  to  see  pitched 
battles  being  fought  ti^tween  the  press-gangs  and  sailors  whom  they 
were  trying  to  capture.  Generally,  the  inhabitants  and  landsmen  sided 
with  the  victims ;  and  a  sailor  running  through  the  streets  of  the  town 
would  be  given  every  assistance  by  people,  who  filled  with  obstacles  the 
path  of  his  pursuers.  Could  he  reach  the  water-side,  the  fugitive  would 
find  every  boat  at  his  service ;  while  his  pursuers,  on  coming  up,  found 
every  water-man  very  busy  and  very  gruff.  But  the  wonder  is,  that, 
with  this  unjust  and  repulsive  system  of  impressments,  the  British  sailors 
were  so  loyal,  and  fought  with  the  dogged  courage  that  they  invariably 
showed. 

In  the  American  navy,  on  the  contrary,  the  enlistments  were  volun- 
tary. The  service  was  popular,  and  the  seamen  entered  it  without  the 
feeling  of  outraged  liberty  inspired  by  the  British  .system.  Officers  were 
readily  obtained  from  the  ranks  of  the  adventurous  American  navigators. 
Officers  and  men  alike  often  brought  into  the  service  personal  memories 
of  British  oppression  ;  and.  this,  with  their  free  and  independent  spirit, 
enabled  them  to  wage  an  unequal  war  with  glorious  results  for  the 
supporters  of  the  stars  and  stripes. 


1 

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Tu    ^ 


CHAPTER   IV, 

THE  WAR  ON  THE  OCEAN.  — COMMODORE  RODGERS'S  CRUISE. —THE  LOSS  OF  THE  "  NAU- 
Tn.U.S."  — FIRST  SUCCESS  FOR  THE  BRITISH.  — THE  ESCAPE  OF  THE  "CONSTITUTION."  — 
THE  "ESSEX"   TAKES  THE  "ALERT."  — THE  "CONSTITUTION  AMD  THE  "GUERRIERE." 

T  the  time  when  the  declaration  of  war  was  made  public,  a 
small  squadron  of  United  States  vessels  was  lying  in  the  port  of 
New  York,  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Rodgcrs.  The 
warlike  tendency  of  the  popular  mind  had  long  been  evident, 
and  the  captain  of  every  war-vessel  had  been  for  some  time  making 
active  preparations  for  service.  Some  apprehension  was  felt  in  naval 
circles,  lest  the  small  size  of  the  navy  should  lead  the  authorities  to  lay 
up  the  vessels  in  port  during  the  continuance  of  the  war.  This  appre- 
hension was  well  founded ;  for  not  only  had  such  a  course  been  debated 
in   the   cabinet,    but    orders    had    been    prepared,    directing    Commodore 

Rodgers  to  hold  his  vessels  in  port.     This  decision  was  actively  opposed 
96 


i, 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


97 


by  the  officers  of  the  navy,  iVho  felt  that,  though  inconsiderable  in  num- 
bers, the  United  States  navy  could  make  a  brave  fight  for  the  honor  of 
the  nation ;  and  with  one  accord  all  protested  against  the  action  con- 
templated. Two  officers,  Capt.  Bainbridge  and  Capt.  Stewart,  went  to 
Washington  and  sought  an  interview  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
Paul  Hamilton,  who  assured  them  that  the  plans  of  the  Government  were 
well  matured  and  would  not  be  changed.  The  United  States  could  not 
afford,  said  the  secretary,  that  its  few  frigates  and  men-of-war  should  be 
snapped  up  by  the  enormous  fleets  of  the  British,  as  would  surely  be  the 
case,  if  they  ventured  upon  the  ocean.  But  it  was  not  intended  to  materi- 
ally reduce  the  lists  of  naval  officers.  The  frigates,  with  all  their  loose 
spars  and  top-hamper  taken  down,  were  to  be  anchored  at  the  entrances  of 
the  principal  harbors  of  the  country,  and  operated  as  stationary  batteries. 

This  prospect  was  far  from  agreeable  to  the  two  officers.  It  was  intol- 
erable for  them  to  imagine  the  graceful  frigates,  with  towering  masts  and 
snowy  canvas,  reduced  to  mere  shapeless  hulks,  and  left  to  guard  the 
entrance  of  a  placid  harbor.  Finding  the  secretary  inexorable,  they  went 
to  the  President  and  put  the  case  before  him.  They  assured  him,  that, 
small  though  the  list  of  American  ships  was,  it  bore  the  names  of  vessels 
able  to  cope  with  any  thing  of  their  class  in  the  British  navy.  Both 
officers  and  seamen  were  proud  of  the  service,  and  burned  to  strike  a 
blow  for  its  honor.  President  Madison  seemed  much  impressed  by  their 
representations,  and  agreed  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration ;  and,  if 
it  seemed  wise,  to  change  the  plan.  But,  before  any  definite  action  was 
taken  by  him,  war  was  declared. 

Within  an  hour  after  he  had  received  news  of  the  declaration  of  war, 
Commodore  Rodgers  had  his  squadron  under  way,  and  dropped  down  New 
York  Bay  to  the  ocean.  Under  his  command  were  the  flag-ship  "  Presi- 
dent "  of  forty-four  guns,  the  "  Essex "  thirty-two,  and  the  "  Hornet " 
eighteen.  In  the  lower  bay  these  vessels  were  joined  by  the  "United 
States  "  forty-four,  the  "Congress"  thirty-eight,  and  the  "Argus"  sixteen. 
On  June  21,  181 2,  three  days  after  the  declaration  of  war,  the  whole 
squadron  passed  Sandy  Hook,  and  stood  out  into  the  ocean. 


'       :    ,'•  i 


WiM  iMC-*" 


^m 


98 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   181 2. 


,•;  -i 


It  is  probable  that  the  remarkable  celeilty  of  Commodore  Rodgers's 
departure  was  due,  in  part,  to  the  fear  that  the  authorities  would  revive 
the  obnoxious  order  laying  up  the  ships  in  port.  His  chief  object,  how- 
ever, was  to  overhaul  a  large  fleet  of  British  merchantmen  that  had 
recently  left  the  West  Indies,  and,  according  to  all  calculations,  should 
have  been  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  at  that  time.  All  sail  was  accord- 
ingly crowded  upon  the  ships,  and  the  squadron  set  out  in  hot  pursuit. 

For  two  days  the  monotony  of  the  horizon  was  broken  by  no  sail ; 
but  on  the  third  a  ship  was  espied  in  the  distance,  which  was  made  out 
to  be  an  enemy's  frigate,  after  which  chase  was  made  by  the  whole 
squadron.  A  fresh  breeze  was  blowing,  and  both  chase  and  pursuers 
were  running  free  before  the  wind.  As  sail  after  sail  was  crowded  upon 
the  ships,  the  smaller  vessels,  with  their  lesser  expanse  of  canvas,  began 
to  fall  behind ;  and  in  a  few  hours  the  frigate  "  President  "  had  gradu- 
ally drawn  away  from  the  fleet,  and  was  rapidly  gaining  on  the  enemy. 
The  sail  had  been  spied  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  at  four  p.m. 
the  flag-ship  had  come  within  gunshot  of  the  ch  vse.  The  wind  then 
fell ;  and  the  chase,  being  long  out  of  port  and  light,  began  to  gain  on 
her  heavier  adversary.  Both  vessels  now  began  to  prepare  for  a  little 
gunnery.  On  the  English  vessel,  which  proved  to  be  the  "  Belvidera," 
thirty-six,  the  sailors  were  busily  engaged  in  shifting  long  eighteens  and 
carronades  to  the  stern,  making  a  battery  of  stern-chasers  mounting  four 
guns. 

The  action  was  opened  by  a  gun  from  the  bow  of  the  "  President," 
sighted  and  fired  by  Commodore  Rodgers  himself ;  so  that  this  officer  may 
be  said  to  have  fired  the  first  gun  of  the  war.  His  shot  was  a  good  one, 
hulling  the  enemy.  A  second  shot  from  one  of  the  guns  of  the  first 
division  broke  off  the  muzzle  of  one  of  the  "  Belvidera's  "  stern-chasers  ; 
and  a  third  shot,  fired  by  Commodore  Rodgers,  crashed  into  the  stern 
of  the  chase,  killing  two  men,  and  wounding  several  others.  Certainly  in 
their  first  action  the  Yankees  showed  no  lack  of  skill  in  gunnery. 

The  chase  was  slow  in  responding  to  the  fire  ;  and  although  her  com- 
mander, Capt.  Byron,  sighted  the  guns  for  the  first  few  discharges  himself. 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


99 


his  aim  was  by  no  means  so  good  as  that  of  the  Americans.  The  British 
showed  great  energy,  however,  in  defending  their  ship.  Not  content  with 
the  stern  guns  already  mounted,  they  shifted  to  the  stern  ports  two  long 
eighteen-pounders  on  the  main  deck,  and  two  thirty-two-pound  carronadcs 
on  the  quarter-deck.  With  these  they  kept  up  a  brisk  fire,  which  soon 
became  effective,  many  shots  cutting  the  rigging  of  the  "  President,"  while 
one  plunged  down  upon  the  deck,  killing  a  midshipman  and  two  or  three 
men.  But  the  superiority  of  the  American  gunnery  was  beginning  to  tell, 
when,  at  a  critical  moment,  a  main-deck  gun,  on  the  "  President,"  burst  with 
a  stunning  report ;  and  the  flying  fragments  killed  or  wounded  sixteen 
men.  The  force  of  the  explosion  shattered  the  forecastle  deck.  Com- 
modore Rodgers  was  thrown  high  into  the  air,  and,  falling  heavily  on  the 
deck,  suffered  a  painful  fracture  of  the  leg.  The  crew  was  at  once  thrown 
into  confusion  and  almost  panic.  Every  gun  was  looked  upon  with  suspi- 
cion. Encouraged  by  this  confusion,  the  enemy  worked  his  stern  guns 
with  renewed  vigor,  and  at  the  same  time  lightened  his  ship  by  cutting 
away  boats  and  anchors,  and  starting  fourteen  tons  of  water.  Thus 
lightened,  she  began  to  draw  away  from  the  "  President ; "  perceiving 
which,  the  latter  ship  yawed  several  times,  and  let  fly  full  broadsides  at 
the  escaping  chase.  The  shot  rattled  among  the  spars  of  the  "  Belvidcra," 
but  the  nimble  topmen  quickly  repaired  all  damages ;  and  the  British  ship 
slowly  but  steadily  forged  ahead.  Seeing  no  hope  of  overtaking  her, 
Rodgers  ordered  the  chase  abandoned  ;  and  the  American  squadron  again 
took  up  its  search  for  the  fleet  of  British  merchantmen. 

But  this,  the  first  cruise  of  the  United  States  navy  in  the  war  was 
destined  to  be  a  disappointment  to  all  concerned.  The  key-note  set  by 
the  affair  just  related  —  in  which  the  "President"  lost  twenty-two  men, 
and  permitted  her  adversary  to  escape  —  was  continued  throughout  the 
voyage.  Always  finding  traces  of  the  enemy  they  were  seeking,  the 
Americans  never  succeeded  in  overhauling  him.  One  day  great  quanti- 
ties of  orange-peel,  cocoanut-shells,  and  similar  fragments  of  tropical  fruits 
gave  the  jackies  assurance  of  the  proximity  of  the  long-sought  enemy, 
and  urged  them  on  to  renewed  energy  and  watchfulness.     Then  the  master 


i'-'i 


'k^ 


mmmmmm 


l«   if 


lOO 


BLUK-J-\CKETS    OF    1812. 


of   an  English    lettcr-of-marquc,  captured  by  Ihc  "  Hornet,"  reported  that 
the   day  before   he   had    passed   a   fleet    of   eighty-five  sail,  of   which  four 


EXPLOSION  ON  THE  "PRESIDENT 


I  : 


it 


were  men-of-war.  That  night  there  was  no  room  in  the  minds  of  the 
sailors  for  any  thoughts  other  than  those  of  big  prize-money.  But  their 
golden   dreams  were   never  to   be   fulfilled ;   for,  although   the   chase  was 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


lOI 


continued  until  within  a  clay's  run  of  the  English  Channel,  no  sight  of 
the  Jamaica  fleet  was  ever  gained.  Abandoning  this  chase,  the  squadron 
returned  to  Boston  by  a  Southern  route ;  and,  although  constantly  in  the 
very  highway  of  commerce,  few  sails  were  sighted.  When  port  was 
reached,  the  results  of  a  cruise  that  had  occupied  seventy  days  amounted 
only  to  the  capture  of  one  letter-of-marque,  seven  merchantmen,  and  the 
recapture  of  one  American  ship.  But  Rodgers  heard,  that,  while  he 
had  been  scouring  the  ocean  with  such  meagre  results,  events  of  more 
importance  had  occurred  nearer  home. 

The  British  ship  "  Belvidera,"  after  her  lucky  escape  from  the  "  Presi- 
dent," had  made  her  way  to  Halifa.x,  the  chief  naval  station  of  Great 
Britain  on  the  American  coast.  Her  report  was  the  first  news  of  the 
declaration  of  war,  for  at  that  day  ncvs  travelled  slowly.  Once  alarmed, 
the  British  were  prompt  to  act ;  and  in  a  few  days  a  squadron  left  Halifa.x 
in  search  of  Commodore  Rodgers.  The  force  thus  hurriedly  gathered 
was  quite  formidable.  The  "  Africa  "  of  si.xtyfour  guns,  the  "  Shannon," 
thirty-eight,  the  "Guerriere,"  thirty-eight,  the  "  Belvidera,"  thirty-si.x,  and 
the  "/Eolus,"  thirty-two,  made  up  the  fleet  despatched  to  chastise  the 
headstrong  Americans  for  their  attempt  to  dispute  with  Great  Britain  the 
mastery  of  the  ocean.  Early  in  July,  this  force  made  its  appearance  off 
New  York,  and  quickly  made  captures  enough  to  convince  the  American 
merchantmen  that  a  season  in  port  was  preferable  to  the  dangers  of  the 
high  seas  in  war-times.  To  this  same  fleet  belongs  the  honor  of  the  first 
capture  of  a  war-vessel  during  the  war  ;  for  the  American  brig  "  Nautilus," 
fourteen  guns,  was  suddenly  overhauled  by  the  entire  fleet,  and  captured 
after  a  plucky  but  unavailing  attempt  at  flight. 

Fourteen-gun  brigs,  however,  were  rather  small  game  for  a  squadron 
like  that  of  the  British  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  His  Britannic  Majesty's 
officers  were  heartily  glad,  when,  some  days,  later  the  United  States  frigate 
"  Constitution  "  hove  in  sight,  under  circumstances  which  seemed  certain 
to  make  her  an  easy  prey  to  the  five  British  ships. 

It  was  on  the  17th  of  July,  1812,  that  the  "Constitution,"  after 
receiving  a  new  crew  at   Annapolis,  was   standing   northward   under  easy 


I02 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


liB! 


sail  on  her  way  to  New  York.  About  noon  four  sails  were  sighted  on 
the  horizon,  and  an  hour  later  the  appearance  of  a  fifth  sail  was  duly 
reported.  A  careful  scrutiny  of  the  strangers  convinced  Capt.  Hull  that 
they  were  men-of-war,  although  their  nationality  could  not  be  determined. 
Night  fell  before  the  ships  could  come  within  hailing  distance ;  and,  though 
Hull  set  private  signals,  no  answer  was  returned.  When  day  broke,  Hull 
found  himself  fairly  surrounded  by  British  frigates.  In  addition  to  the 
squadron  which  has  been  described  as  leaving  Halifax,  there  was  the 
captured  "  Nautilus  "  with  her  guns  turned  against  her  own  nation,  and 
a  captured  American  schooner  which  had  been  likewise  pressed  into  the 
service.  Clearly  the  "  Constitution  "  was  outnumbered,  and  nothing  was 
left  for  her  but  flight. 

The  events  of  that  three  days'  chase  are  told  with  great  minuteness 
in  the  log-book  of  the  "  Constitution,"  to  which  many  of  those  on  board 
have,  in  later  publications,  added  more  interesting  personal  reminiscences. 
When  the  rising  mists  showed  how  completely  the  American  frigate  was 
hemmed  in,  hardly  a  breath  of  air  was  stirring.  Although  every  sail 
was  set  on  the  ship,  yet  she  had  not  steerage  way ;  and  Hull  ordered 
out  the  boats,  to  pull  the  ship's  head  around  and  tow  her  out  of  range  of 
her  enemies.  At  the  same  time,  gangs  of  sailors  with  a.xes  cut  away  the 
woodwork  aoout  the  cabin  windows,  and  mounted  two  stern  guns  in 
the  cabin  and  one  on  the  upper  deck.  The  enemy,  in  the  mean  time, 
were  keeping  up  a  vigorous  fire,  but  without  effect.  Their  ships  were 
rapidly  gaining,  as  they  were  enabled  to  set  the  boats  of  the  whole 
squadron  to  towing  the  two  foremost  vessels,  Hull  saw  that  some  new 
means  of  getting  ahead  must  be  devised. 

Soundings  were  taken,  and  the  ship  found  to  be  in  twenty-six  fathoms 
of  water.  All  the  available  rope  in  the  ship  was  then  bent  on  to  a 
kedge  and  carried  far  ahead,  when  the  kedge  was  lowered  to  the  bottom. 
The  sailors  then  shipped  their  capstan-bars,  and  tramped  about  the 
capstan,  until  the  ship  was  dragged  up  to  the  kedge,  which  was  then 
hoisted  and  again  carried  ahead  and  let  fall.  This  manoeuvre  was 
repeated  several  times  with  marked  success ;  for  the  "  Constitution  "  was 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


10: 


rapidly  drawing  away  from  her  pursuers,  who  could  not  discover  her 
means  of  propulsion.  Out  of  sight  of  land  as  they  were,  the  Ikitish 
did  not  for  some  time  suspect  the  true  cause  of  the  sudden  speed  of  the 
fugitive.  When,  after  long  scrutiny  through  their  marine  glasses,  they 
finally  did  discover  the  stratagem,  the  "  Constitution "  was  far  ahead ; 
and  though  the  pursuers  adopted  the  same  device,  yet  their  awkwardness 
was  so  great,  that  even  the  superior  force  they  were  enabled  to  employ 
did  not  bring  them  up  to  their  chase. 

While  the  ships  were  thus  being  urged  on  by  towing,  kcdging,  and 
occasionally  by  sweeps,  an  intermittent  fire  was  kept  up  by  the  British, 
and  responded  to  by  the  "  Constitution  "  from  her  stern  ports.  The  guns 
which  had  been  mounted  by  the  Americans  in  the  cabin,  they  were  soon 
forced  to  abandon,  as  the  explosions  threatened  to  blow  out  the  whole 
stern  frame.  With  the  stern-chasers  on  the  gun-deck,  however,  a  constant 
fire  was  maintained,  in  the  hopes  of  crippling  the  enemy  by  a  lucky  shot. 

For  more  than  forty-eight  hours  the  chase  maintained  this  aspect  of 
monotony.  A  dead  calm  prevailed  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  Occa- 
sionally, light  breezes  filled  the  sails,  and  wafted  the  ships  ahead  for  a 
few  minutes ;  then,  dying  away,  left  the  sea  unruffled,  and  the  sails  flap- 
ping idly  against  the  masts.  British  historians  concur  with  those  of  our 
own  country,  in  saying  that  the  "  Constitution,"  in  seizing  the  advan- 
tages of  the  breeze,  showed  far  better  seamanship  than  did  her  enemies. 
While  the  British  vessels  lay  to,  to  pick  up  their  boats,  the  "  Constitution  " 
forged  ahead,  picking  up  her  boats  while  under  way.  Later  in  the  chase, 
the  British  totally  abandoned  their  boats,  and,  when  the  American 
frigate  had  fairly  escaped  them,  went  about  for  some  days  picking  up 
such  boats  as  were  found  drifting  on  the  broad  ocean. 

The  morning  of  the  second  day  of  the  chase  dawned  with  a  light 
breeze  ruffling  the  water,  and  filling  out  the  sails  of  the  ships.  Before 
the  breeze  died  away,  which  it  did  in  a  few  hours,  the  "  Constitution  " 
had  gained  on  her  pursuers  so  that  she  led  them  by  more  than  four 
miles.  Then  the  calm  again  held  the  ships  quiet ;  and  again  the  Ameri- 
cans saw  their  enemies  closing  in  upon  them  by  the  aid  of  sweeps,  and 


iJi 


■!.■;: 
If  1 1 


1     I 
'  :  I 

I 


I04 


BLUK-JACKKTS   OF    iSi2. 


towing  with  their  lioats.  There  was  little  rest  for  the  crew  of  the 
American  frigate.  On  the  gun-deck,  about  the  carriages  of  the  great 
cannon,  lay  such  of  the  men  as  were  not  assigned  to  duty  in  the  boats 
or  at  the  capstan.  Wearied  with  the  constant  strain,  they  fell  asleep  as 
soon  as  relieved  from  active  duty;  though  they  knew  that  from  that 
sleep  they  might  be  awakened  to  plunge  into  the  fierce  excitement  of 
desperate  battle.  K.vhaustcd  as  the  men  were,  their  officers  were  forced 
to  endure  a  still  more  fearful  strain.  No  sleep  came  to  the  eyelids  of 
Capt.  Hull,  throughout  the  chase.  Now  encouraging  the  men,  now 
planning  a  new  ruse  to  deceive  the  enemy,  ever  watchful  of  the  pursu- 
ing ships,  and  ready  to  take  advantage  of  the  slightest  breath  of  air, 
Capt.  Hull  and  his  able  first  lieutenant  Morris  showed  such  seamanship 
as  extorted  admiration  even  from  the  British,  who  were  being  baffled 
by  their  nautical  skill. 

By  skilful  manoeuvring,  the  Americans  managed  to  keep  to  the  wind- 
ward of  their  enemies  throughout  the  chase  ;  and  to  this  fact  the  success 
of  Capt.  Hull's  most  astute  stratagem  was  due.  Ever  alert  for  any  sign 
of  a  coming  breeze,  he  saw  on  the  water  far  to  windward  that  rippling 
apjDcarance  that  betokens  the  coming  of  a  puff.  Hull  determined  to  utilize 
it  for  himself,  and,  if  possible,  trick  the  British  so  that  they  would  lose 
all  benefit  of  the  breeze.  The  clouds  that  were  coming  up  to  windward 
seemed  to  threaten  a  squall,  and  driving  sheets  of  rain  were  rapidly 
advancing  toward  the  ship.  With  great  ostentation,  the  "Constitution" 
was  made  ready  for  a  severe  gale.  The  enemy  could  sec  the  nimble 
sailors  taking  in  sail,  and  furling  all  the  lighter  canvas.  Then  the  driv- 
ing rain  swept  over  the  ship,  and  she  was  shut  out  of  sight.  Immediately 
all  was  activity  in  the  tops  of  the  British  frigates.  Reefs  wxre  rapidly  taken 
in  the  larger  sails,  while  many  were  closely  furled.  All  forsook  their  course, 
and  steered  in  different  directions  in  preparation  for  the  coming  squall, 
which,  indeed,  w^as  far  less  violent  than  the  action  of  the  "Constitution" 
seemed  to  indicate.  But  the  shrewd  Yankees  on  that  craft,  protected  from 
spying  British  eyes  by  the  heavy  rain,  were  now  shaking  out  the  reefs  they 
had  just  set ;  and  under  full  sail  the  ship  was  soon  flying  away  towards 


t 


I   ■!!) 


i     H 


ESCAPE   OF   THE   CONSTITUTION. 


H(.^  I 


!  r 


I  m 


f  I 


I:  i 


BLUF.-JACKKTS   OF    1812. 


10: 


home.  After  an  hour  of  driving  thundcr-i^hower,  the  clouds  passed  by  ;  and 
the  wall-like  edge  of  the  shower  could  be  seen  moving  rapidly  away  before 
the  wind.  The  tars  on  the  "Constitution"  watched  eagerly  to  see  the 
British  fleet  appear.  Farther  and  farther  receded  the  gray  curtain,  and  yet 
no  ships  could  be  seen.  "Where  arc  they  .'"  was  the  thought  of  every 
eager  watcher  on  the  deck  of  the  "Constitution."  At  last  they  appeared, 
so  far  in  the  distance  as  to  be  practically  out  of  the  chase.  Two  were  even 
hull  down  ;  while  one  was  barely  visible,  a  mere  speck  on  the  horizon. 

Though  now  hopeles.sly  distanced,  the  British  did  not  give  up  the  pur- 
suit, but  held  valiantly  on  after  the  American  frigate.  She  had  so  long 
been  within  their  very  grasp  that  it  was  a  bitter  disappointment  for  them  to 
be  1'  'Iked  of  their  prey.  But,  as  the  wind  now  held,  the  American  gained  on 
them  so  rapidly  that  at  last  they  unwillingly  abandoned  the  chase ;  and,  dis- 
banding the  fleet,  each  ship  set  off  on  an  individual  cruise,  in  the  hopes  that 
the  enemy  which  had  shown  such  ability  in  flight  when  overpowered  would 
not  deign  to  fly  if  encountered  by  a  single  hostile  ship.  This  expectation 
was  fully  realized  some  weeks  later,  when  the  "  Constitution  "  fell  in  with  the 
British  frigate  "Guerriere." 

Thus,  after  a  chase  of  more  than  sixty-four  hours,  the  "  Constitution  " 
evaded  her  pursuers,  and  made  her  way  to  Boston.  Although  they  reape'd 
no  glory  by  their  labors,  the  British  did  not  come  out  of  the  chase  alto- 
gether empty-handed.  As  the  course  of  the  vessels  was  along  the  New 
England  coast,  they  were  in  the  direct  path  of  American  commerce  ;  and 
more  than  one  wretched  coaster  fell  into  their  clutches.  At  one  time,  a 
fine,  full-rigged  ship,  flying  the  stars  and  stripes,  came  within  sight ;  and 
the  British,  to  lure  her  to  her  destruction,  hoisted  the  American  flag 
over  all  their  vessels.  But  Hull  was  a  match  for  them  at  strategy;  and 
he  promptly  set  the  British  colors  at  his  masthead,  and  began  so  vigor- 
ous a  caraonade  that  the  stranger  concluded  that  a  merchantman  had 
no  business  in  that  quarter,  even  though  the  Americans  did  appear  to 
be  rather  in  the  majority. 

By  his  able  seamanship  in  this  chase  Capt.  Hull  gained  for  himself  a 
national  reputation.     The  newspapers  of  the  day  vied  with  each  other  in 


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1 08 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


pointing  out  the  mananivres  in  which  he  had  excelled  his  enemies,  —  how 
he  had  picked  up  his  boats  wliile  under  way,  though  the  enemy  were 
forced  to  cut  theirs  adrift ;  how  he  had  come  out  of  the  chase  without 
injury,  and  after  parting  with  only  a  few  gallons  of  water,  though  a  less 
cool-headed  commander  would  have  thrown  overboard  guns,  ammunition, 
and  every  thing  movable,  in  the  face  of  so  great  a  danger.  A  modest 
sailor,  as  well  as  a  skilful  one,  Capt.  Hull  showed  himself  to  be ;  for, 
while  the  popular  adulation  was  at  its  height,  he  inserted  a  card  in  the 
books  of  the  Exchange  Coffee-House  at  Boston,  oegging  his  friends  to 
"  make  a  transfer  of  a  great  part  of  their  good  wishes  to  Lieut.  Morris  and 
the  other  brave  officers  and  crew  under  his  command,  for  their  very  jfreat 
exertions  and  prompt  attention  to  orders  while  the  enemy  were  in  chase." 

Leaving  the  "Constitution"  thus  snugly  in  port  at  Boston,  we  will 
turn  aside  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  a  ship,  which,  though  belated  in 
getting  out  to  sea,  yet  won  the  honor  of  capturing  the  first  British  war- 
vessel  taken  during  the  war. 

When  Commodore  Rodgers  set  sail  from  New  York  with  his  squadron, 
in  the  fruitless  pursuit  of  the  fleet  of  Jamaica  men,  he  left  in  the  harbor 
the  small  frigate  "  Essex,"  under  the  command  of  Capt.  David  Porter. 
The  ship  was  thoroughly  dismantled,  —  stripped  of  her  rigging,  her  hold 
broken  out,  and  provided  neither  with  armament,  ammunition,  nor  crew. 
Her  captain,  however,  was  a  man  of  indomitable  energy ;  and  by  dint  of 
much  hard  work,  and  constant  appeals  to  the  authorities  at  Washington, 
he  managed  to  get  his  ship  in  order,  and  leave  the  harbor  within  a  fort- 
night after  the  departure  of  the  squadron  under  Rodgers's  command. 

The  "  Essex "  was  a  small  frigate,  lightly  sparred,  rating  as  a  thirty- 
two-giui  ship,  but  mounting  twenty-six  guns  only,  of  which  six  were 
twelve-pounders,  and  the  remainder  carronades  of  thirty-two  pounds.  A 
carronade  is  a  short  cannon  of  large  calibre,  but  of  very  short  range. 
Capt.  Porter  protested  vigorously  against  being  furnished  with  a  battery 
so  useless  except  at  close  quarters :  but  his  protests  were  unheeded ;  and 
the  "  Essex  "  put  to  sea,  trusting  to  her  ability  to  get  alongside  the  enemy, 
where  her  carronades  would  be  of  some  use. 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


109 


Among  the  midshipmen  who  bunked,  messed,  and  skylarked  together 
in  the  steerage  of  the  "  Essex,"  was  one  lad  -whose  name  in  later  days 
was  to  be  inscribed  on  the  roll  of  the  greatest  naval  heroes  of  history. 
David  Glasgow  Farragut  was  a  child  of  seven  years  of  age  when  he  was 
adopted  by  Capt.  Porter,  and  began  his  training  for  a  naval  career.  In 
1810  the  boy  secured  his  appointment  of  midshipman;  and  now,  in  i8i2, 
we  find  him  enrolled  among  the  "young  gentlemen"  who  followed  the 
fortunes  of  the  "Essex."  In  those  days  the  midshipmen  were  often  mere 
boys.  Farragut  himself  was  then  but  eleven  years  old.  liut,  boys  as  they 
were,  they  ordered  the  hardy  old  tars  about,  and  .strutted  the  streets 
when  on  shore-leave,  with  all  the  dignity  of  veterans. 

That  the  discipline  of  the  "  Essex  "  was  of  the  strictest,  and  that  the 
eflficiency  of  her  crew  was  above  criticism,  we  have  the  testimony  of 
Farragut  himself  to  prove.  "Every  day,"  he  writes,  "the  crew  were 
exercised  at  the  great  guns,  small  arms,  and  single  stick ;  and  I  may 
here  mention  the  fact,  that  I  have  never  been  on  a  ship  where  the 
crew  of  the  old  "Essex"  was  represented,  but  that  I  found  them  to  be 
the  best  swordsmen  on  board.  They  had  been  so  thoroughly  trained  as 
boarders,  that  every  man  was  prepared  for  such  an  emergency,  with  his 
cutlass  as  sharp  as  a  razor,  a  dirk  made  by  the  ship's  armorer  out  of  a 
file,  and  a  pistol." 

Hardly  were  the  Highlands  of  Navesink  lost  to  sight  below  the  hori- 
zon, when  Porter  began  to  receive  evidences  that  his  cruise  was  to  be  a 
lucky  one.  Several  brigs  were  captured,  and  sent  into  New  York  ;  but 
the  tars  of  the  "Essex"  were  beginning  to  grow  weary  of  small  game, 
and  hoped,  each  time  a  sail  was  sighted,  that  it  might  be  a  British  man- 
of-war.  At  last  a  small  squadron  hove  into  sight,  the  appearance  of  which 
seemed  to  indicate  that  the  jackies  might  smell  gunpowder  to  their  hearts' 
content  before  the  next  day. 

It  was  late  at  night  when  the  strange  fleet  was  sighted ;  and  the 
"  Essex "  was  soon  running  down  upon  them,  before  a  fresh  breeze. 
Although  the  moon  was  out,  its  light  was  obscured  by  dense  masses  of 
cloud,  that  were  driven  rapidly  across  the  sky ;  while  over  the  water  hung 


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I  lO 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


a  light  haze,  that  made  diflficult  the  discovery  of  objects  at  any  distance. 
The  "  Essex "  soon  came  near  enough  to  the  squadron  to  ascertain  that 
it  was  a  fleet  of  British  merchantmen  and  transports  convoyed  by  a 
frigate  and  bomb-vessel.  The  frigate  was  at  the  head  of  the  line ;  and 
the  "  Essex,"  carefully  concealing  her  hostile  character,  clapped  on  all 
sail  and  pressed  forward,  in  the  hopes  of  bringing  on  an  action.  After 
passing  the  hindermost  transport,  however,  the  American  ship  was  hailed 
by  a  second  transport,  which  soon  suspected  her  hostile  character  and 
threatened  to  give  the  alarm.  Instantly  the  ports  of  the  "  Essex "  were 
knocked  out,  the  guns  trained  on  the  enemy,  and  the  transport  was 
ordered  to  haul  out  of  the  line  at  once,  and  silently,  under  penalty 
of  being  fired  into.  The  defenceless  ship  complied,  and  was  at  once 
taken  possession  of,  and  the  soldiers  on  board  were  transferred  to  the 
"  Essex."  This  operation  took  so  much  time,  that,  by  the  time  it  was 
concluded,  day  dawned  over  the  ocean;  and  the  attack  upon  the  British 
frigate  was  abandoned. 

Again  the  "  Essex "  continued  her  cruise  in  search  of  an  cnemv 
worthy  of  her  metal.  For  two  or  three  days  she  beat  about  the  ocean 
in  the  usual  track  of  ships,  without  sighting  a  single  sail.  The  ship 
had  been  so  disguised,  that  the  keenest-eyed  lookout  would  never  have 
taken  her  for  a  ship-of-war.  The  top-gallant  masts  were  housed,  the 
ports  of  the  gun-deck  closed  in,  and  her  usually  trim  cordage  and  nicely 
squared  yards  were  now  set  in  a  way  that  only  the  most  shiftless  of 
merchant  skippers  would  tolerate.  Not  many  days  passed  before  the 
enemy  fell  into  the  trap  thus  set  for  him. 

When  on  the  13th  of  August  Capt.  Porter  learned  that  a  sail  to 
windward,  apparently  a  British  man-of-war,  was  bearing  down  upon  the 
"  Essex,"  he  carried  his  little  bit  of  acting  still  further.  Instead  of  the 
great  crowd  of  agile  sailors  that  spring  into  the  rigging  of  a  man-of-war, 
at  the  order  to  make  sail,  only  a  handful,  in  obedience  to  Porter's  orders, 
awkwardly  set  on  the  "  Essex "  all  the  sail  she  would  carry.  Two  long, 
heavy  cables  dragging  in  the  water  astern  so  retarded  the  ship,  that  the 
stranger,  coming  down  gallantly,  thought  he  had  fallen  in  with  a  lumber- 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


I  I  I 


ing  old  American  merchantman,  which  was  making  frantic,  but  futile, 
efforts  to  escape. 

Had  the  British  captain  been  able  to  look  behind  the  closed  ports  of 
the  "  Essex,"  he  would  have  formed  a  very  different  idea  of  the  charac- 
ter of  his  chase.  He  would  have  seen  a  roomy  gun-deck,  glistening  with 
that  whiteness  seen  only  on  the  decks  of  well-kept  men-of-war.  Down 
cither  side  of  the  deck  stretched  a  row  of  heavy  carronades,  each  with 
its  crew  of  gunners  grouped  about  the  breech,  and  each  shotted  and 
primed  ready  for  the  opening  volley.  From  the  magazine  amidships, 
to  the  gun-deck,  reached  a  line  of  stewards,  waiters,  and  cooks,  ready  to 
pass  up  cartridges ;  for  on  a  man-of-war,  in  action,  no  one  is  an  idler. 
Active  boys  were  skurrying  about  the  deck,  barefooted,  and  stripped  to 
the  waist.  These  were  the  "powder  monkeys,"  whose  duty  it  would  be, 
when  the  action  opened,  to  take  the  cartridges  from  the  line  of  powder- 
passers  and  carry  it  to  the  guns.  On  the  spar-deck,  only  a  few  sailors 
and  officers  were  visible  to  the  enemy ;  but  under  the  taffrail  lay  crouched 
scores  of  blue-uniformed  jackies,  with  smooth-faced  middies  and  veteran 
lieutenants,  ready  to  spring  into  the  rigging  at  the  word  of  command,  or 
to  swarm  over  the  side  and  board  the  enemy,  should  the  gunwales  of 
the  vessels  touch. 

All  this  preparation,  however,  was  unknown  to  the  "  Englishman," 
who  came  boldly  on,  doubting  nothing  that  the  "Esse.x"  would  that  day 
be  added  to  his  list  of  prizes.  As  he  drew  nearer,  the  American  sailors 
could  see  that  their  foe  was  much  their  inferior  in  size  and  armament ; 
and  the  old  tars  who  had  seen  service  before  growiod  out  their  dissatis- 
faction, that  the  action  should  be  nothing  but  a  scrimmage  after  all.  In 
a  few  minutes,  the  bold  Britons  gave  three  ringing  cheers,  and  let  fly  a 
broadside  at  the  "Essex."  In  an  instant  the  ports  of  the  sham  mer- 
chantman were  knocked  out ;  and,  with  a  war-like  thunder,  the  heavy 
carronades  hurled  their  ponderous  missiles  against  the  side  of  the 
assailant.  The  astonished  Englishmen  replied  feebly,  but  were  quickly 
driven  from  their  posts  by  the  rapidity  of  the  American  fire ;  and,  in 
eight  minutes  after  the  action  was  opened,  the  British  hauled  down  their 


1  12 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


it  'I 


flag.  The  captured  ship  proved  to  be  the  sloop-of-war  "Alert,"  mount- 
ing twenty  eighteen-jDounder  carronades.  The  boarding  officer  found 
her  badly  cut  up,  and  seven  feet  of  water  in  the  hold.  The  officers 
were  transferred  to  the  "Essex,"  and  the  "Alert"  taken  in  tow.  Cir- 
cumstances, however,  forced  the  Americans  to  part  in  a  very  few  days. 

The  chief  cause  which  led  to  the  separation  of  the  two  vessels  was 
an  incipient  mutiny,  which  was  discovered  by  Midshipman  Farragut,  and 
was  only  averted  by  the  perfect  discipline  of  the  American  crew.  An 
exercise  to  which  the  greatest  attention  was  given  was  the  "fire-drill." 
When  the  cry  of  fire  was  raised  on  the  ship,  every  man  seized  his  cut- 
lass and  blanket,  and  went  to  quarters  as  though  the  ship  were  about  to 
go  into  action.  Capt.  Porter  was  accustomed,  that  his  men  might  be 
well  prepared  for  any  emergency,  to  raise  this  cry  of  fire  at  all  hours  of 
the  night ;  and  often  he  caused  a  slight  smoke  to  be  created  in  the  hold, 
further  to  try  the  nerves  of  his  men.  Shortly  after  the  "Alert"  was 
captured,  and  while  the  "  Essex  "  was  crowded  with  prisoners,  some  of 
the  captives  conspired  to  seize  the  ship,  and  carry  her  to  England.  One 
night,  as  Farragut  was  sleeping  in  his  hammock,  a  strange  feeling  of 
fear  came  over  him  ;  and  he  opened  his  eyes  to  find  the  coxswain  of  the 
captain's  gig  of  the  "  Alert "  standing  over  him  with  a  pistol  in  his  hand. 
The  boy  knew  him  to  be  a  prisoner,  and,  seeing  him  armed,  was  con- 
vinced that  something  was  wrong.  Expecting  every  moment  to  be  killed, 
he  lay  still  in  his  hammock,  until  the  man  turned  on  his  heel  and  walked 
away.  Then  Farragut  slipped  out,  and  ran  to  the  captain's  cabin  to  report 
the  incident.  Porter  rushed  upon  the  berth-deck  in  an  instant.  "  Fire  ! 
fire  !  "  shouted  he  at  the  top  of  his  voice  ;  and  in  an  instant  the  crew 
were  at  their  quarters,  in  perfect  order.  The  mutineers  thought  that  a 
bad  time  for  their  project,  and  it  was  abandoned.  The  next  day  the 
prisoners  were  sent  on  board  the  "  Alert,"  and  that  vessel  sent  into  St. 
Johns  as  a  cartel. 

The  capture  of  the  "  Alert "  reflected  no  great  glory  upon  the  Ameri- 
cans, for  the  immense  superiority  of  the  "  Essex "  rendered  her  success 
certain.     It  is,  however,  of  interest  as  being  the  first  capture  of  a  British 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


I  I 


war-vessel.  The  action  made  the  honors  easy  between  the  two  nations  ; 
for  while  the  Americans  had  the  "Alert,"  the  British  were  captors  of 
the  brig  "Nautilus."  This  equality  was  not  of  long  duration,  however; 
for  an  action  soon  followed  which  set  all  America  wild  with  exultation. 

After  her  escape  from  the  British  fleet,  the  "Constitution"  remained 
at  Boston  only  a  few  days,  and  then  set  out  on  a  cruise  to  the  eastward 
along  the  New  England  coast.  Bad  luck  seemed  to  follow  her,  and  she 
had  reached  a  point  off  Cape  Sable  before  she  made  a  prize.  Here  two 
or  three  prizes  of  little  value  were  taken ;  and  an  English  sloop-of-war 
was  forced  to  relinquish  an  American  brig,  which  had  been  recently  cap- 
tured. Shortly  afterwards,  a  Salem  privateer  was  overhauled,  the  captain 
of  which  reported  an  English  frigate  cruising  in  the  neighborhood ;  and 
Capt.  Hull  straightway  set  out  to  discover  the  enemy. 

The  frigate  which  had  been  sighted  by  the  Salem  privateer,  and  for 
which  Hull  was  so  eagerly  seeking,  was  the  "  Guerriere,"  a  thirty-eight- 
gun  ship  commanded  by  Capt.  Dacrcs.  With  both  ship  and  captain, 
Capt.  Hull  had  previously  had  some  little  experience.  The  "  Guerriere  " 
was  one  of  the  ships  in  the  squadron  from  which  the  "  Constitution " 
had  so  narrowly  escaped  a  few  weeks  before,  while  Capt.  Dacres  was  an 
old  acquaintance.  A  story  current  at  the  time  relates,  that,  before  the 
war,  the  "Guerriere"  and  the  "Constitution"  were  lying  in  the  Dela- 
ware ;  and  the  two  captains,  happening  to  meet  at  some  entertainment 
on  shore,  fell  into  a  discussion  over  the  merits  of  their  respective  navies. 
Although  even  then  the  cloud  of  war  was  rising  on  the  horizon,  each 
was  pleasant  and  good-natured ;  and  the  discussion  assumed  no  more 
serious  form  than  lively  banter. 

"Well,"  said  Hull  at  last,  "you  may  just  take  good  care  of  that  ship 
of  yours,  if  ever  I  catch  her  in  the  '  Constitution.' " 

Capt.  Dacres  laughed  good-humoredly,  and  offered  to  bet  a  sum  of 
money,  that  in  the  event  of  a  conflict  his  confident  friend  would  find 
himself  the  loser. 

"  No,"  said  Hull,  "  I'll  bet  no  money  on  it ;  but  I  will  stake  you  a 
hat,  that  the  'Constitution'  comes  out  victorious." 


-  ;  n 
iM:| 

:,i  ft; 


114 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


i  I 


i 


u 


=  i  ;  '1 


I 


"  Done,"  responded  Dacres ;  and  the  bet  was  made.  War  was  soon 
declared  ;  and,  as  it  happened,  the  two  friends  were  pitted  against  each 
other  early  in  the  hostilities. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  American  frigate  parted  from  the  privateer 
when  the  long-drawn  hail  of  "  Sail  ho-o-o ! "  from  the  lookout  aloft 
announced  the  discovery  of  another  vessel.  The  course  of  the  "  Constitu- 
tion "  was  at  once  shaped  toward  the  stranger.  In  half  an  hour  she 
was  made  out  to  be  a  frigate,  and  from  her  actions  was  evidently  anxious 
to  come  alongside  the  American  ship.  As  more  than  an  hour  must  elapse 
before  the  ships  could  come  together,  Capt.  Hull  made  his  preparations 
for  action  with  the  greatest  deliberation.  The  top-gallant  sails  were  furled, 
and  the  lighter  spars  lowered  to  the  deck.  Through  their  glasses,  the 
officers  could  see  the  enemy  making  similar  preparations,  and  waiting 
deliberately  for  the  "  Constitution  "  to  come  down. 

At  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  two  ships  were  rapidly  nearing, 
and  the  drums  on  the  American  frigate  beat  to  quarters.  Then  followed 
the  rush  of  barefooted  men  along  the  deck,  as  they  ran  hastily,  but  in 
perfect  order,  to  their  stations.  As  the  roll  of  the  drums  died  away,  the 
shrill  voices  of  the  boyish  midshipmen  arose,  calling  off  the  quarter-bills, 
and  answered  by  the  gruff  responses  of  the  men  at  their  posts.  Every 
man,  from  the  cook  to  the  captain,  knew  his  place,  and  hurried  to  it. 
The  surgeon,  with  his  assistants,  descended  to  the  cock-pit.  The  carpenter 
and  his  mate.:,  made  ready  their  felt-covered  plugs,  for  stopping  holes  made 
by  the  enemy's  shot.  The  topmen  clambered  to  their  posts  in  the  rigging, 
led  by  the  midshipmen  who  were  to  command  them.  The  line  of  powder- 
passers  was  formed ;  and  the  powder-monkeys  gave  up  skylarking,  and 
began  to  look  sober  at  the  thought  of  the  business  in  hand. 

The  "  Guerriere "  was  not  behindhand  in  her  preparations  for  action. 
Capt.  Dacres  had  suspected  the  character  of  the  American  vessel,  from 
the  first  moment  she  had  been  sighted.  On  board  the  English  frigate 
was  Capt.  William  B.  Orne,  a  Marblehead  sailor  who  had  been  captured 
I)      '^e  "Guerriere"  some  days  before.     "Capt.  Dacres  seemed  anxious  to 

^iiain  her  character,"  wrote  Capt.  Orne,  shortly  after  the  battle,  "and 


BLUP:-IACKErS   OF    1812. 


"5 


after  looking  at  her  for  that  purpose,  handed  me  his  spy-glass,  requesting 
me  to  give  him  my  opinion  of  the  stranger.  I  soon  saw,  from  the  pecul- 
iarity of  her  sails  and  her  general  appearance,  that  she  was  without 
doubt  an  American  frigate,  and  communicated  the  same  to  Capt.  Dacres. 
He  immediately  replied,  that  he  thought  she  came  down  too  boldly  for 
an  American  ;  but  soon  after  added,  '  The  better  he  behaves,  the  more 
credit  we  shall  gain  by  taking  him.' 

"  The  two  ships  were  rapidly  approaching  each  other,  when  the  '  Guer- 
riere '  backed  her  main  topsail,  and  waited  for  her  opponent  to  come 
down  and  commence  the  action.  He  then  set  an  English  flag  at  each 
masthead,  beat  to  quarters,  and  made  ready  for  the  fight. 

"  When  the  strange  frigate  came  down  to  within  two  or  three  miles 
distant,  he  hauled  upon  the  wind,  took  in  all  his  light  sails,  reefed  his 
topsails,  and  deliberately  prepared  for  action.  It  was  now  about  five  in 
the  afternoon,  when  he  filled  away  and  ran  down  for  the  'Guerriere.' 
At  this  moment  Capt.  Dacres  said  politely  to  me,  '  Capt.  Orne,  as  I 
suppose  you  do  not  wish  to  fight  against  your  own  countrymen,  you  are 
at  liberty  to  retire  below  the  water-line.'  It  was  not  long  after  this, 
before  I  retired  from  the  quarter-deck  to  the  cock-pit."  It  may  be  well 
here  to  supplement  Capt.  Orne's  narrative  by  the  statement  that  Capt. 
Dacres,  with  a  chivalric  sense  of  justice  not  common  in  the  British  navy 
of  that  day,  allowed  ten  American  sailors  who  had  been  impressed  into 
his  crew  to  leave  their  quarters  and  go  below,  that  they  might  not  fight 
against  their  country.  Though  an  enemy,  he  was  both  gallant  and 
generous. 

The  action  was  opened  by  the  "  Guerriere "  with  her  weather  broad- 
side ;  the  shot  of  which  all  falling  short,  she  wore  around,  and  let  fly 
her  port  broadside,  sending  most  of  the  shot  through  her  enemy's  rigging, 
though  two  took  effect  in  the  hull.  In  response  to  this,  the  "Constitu- 
tion "  yawed  a  little,  and  fired  two  or  three  of  her  bow-guns  ;  after  which 
the  "Guerriere"  again  opened  with  broadsides.  In  this  way  the  battle 
continued  for  about  an  hour ;  the  American  ship  saving  her  fire,  and 
responding  to  the  heavy  broadsides  with  an  occasional  shot. 


r-a 


r  I 


i 


ii6 


HLUK-JACKKTS   OK    1812. 


During  this  ineffectual  firinff,  the  two  ships  were  continually  drawing 
nearer  together,  and  the  gunners  on  the  "Constitution"  were  becoming 
more  and  more  restive  under  their  inaction.  Capt.  Hull  was  pacing  the 
quarter-deck  with  short,  quick  steps,  trying  to  look  cool,  but  inwardly  on 
fire  with  excitement.  As  the  shot  of  the  enemy  began  to  take  effect, 
and  the  impatience  of  the  gunners  grew  more  intense,  Lieut.  Morris,  the 
second  in  command,  asked  leave  to  respond  with  a  broadside. 

"  Not  yet,"  responded  Capt.  Hull  with  cool  decision.  Some  minutes 
later,  the  request  was  repeated,  and  met  with  the  same  response,  while 
the  captain  never  ceased  his  pacing  of  the  deck.  When  within  about 
half  pistol-shot,  another  broadside  came  from  the  "Gucrriere."  Then  the 
smothered  excitement  in  Hull's  breast  broke  out. 

"  Now,  boys,  pour  it  into  them  ! "  he  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  lungs, 
gesticulating  with  such  violence  that  the  tight  breeches  of  his  naval 
uniform  split  clear  down  the  side.  Lieut.  Morris  seconded  the  captain 
in  cheering  on  the  crew. 

"Hull  her,  boys!  Hull  her!"  he  shouted;  and  the  crew,  catching 
up  the  cry,  made  the  decks  ring  with  shouts  of  "Hull  her!"  as  they 
rapidly  loaded  and  let  fly  again. 

The  effect  of  their  first  broadside  was  terrific.  Deep  down  in  the 
cock-pit  of  the  "  Guerriere,"  Capt.  Orne,  who  had  been  listening  to 
the  muffled  thunder  of  the  cannonade  at  long  range,  suddenly  "heard  a 
tremendous  explosion  from  the  opposing  frigate.  The  effect  of  her  shot 
seemed  to  make  the  '  Guerriere '  reel  and  tremble,  as  though  she  had 
received  the  shock  of  an  earthquake.  Immediately  after  this,  I  heard  a 
tremendous  shock  on  deck,  and  was  told  that  the  mizzen-mast  was  shot 
away.  In  a  few  moments  afterward,  the  cock-pit  was  filled  with  wounded 
men." 

Though  in  his  retreat  in  the  cock-pit  the  captive  American  could  hear 
the  roar  of  the  cannon,  and  see  the  ghastly  effects  of  the  flying  missiles, 
he  could  form  but  a  small  idea  of  the  fury  of  the  conflict  which  was 
raging  over  his  head.  Stripped  to  the  waist,  and  covered  with  the  stains 
of  powder  and  of   blood,  the  gunners  on  the  two  ships  pulled  fiercely  at 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


i'7 


the  gun-tackle,  and  wieldccl  the  rammers  with  frantic  energy  ;  then  let 
fly  the  death-dealing  bolt  into  the  hull  of  an  enemy  only  a  few  yards 
distant.  The  ships  were  broadside  to  broadside,  when  the  Englishman's 
mizzen-mast  was  shot  away,  and  fell,  throwing  the  topmen  far  out  into 
the  sea.     The  force  of  the  great  spar  falling  upon  the  deck  made  a  great 


''J^'«il;ii!i;!lilll!f!::    , 


"HULL  HER,  BOYS!' 


breach  in  the  quarter  of  the  ship ;  and,  while  the  sailors  were  clearing 
away  the  wreck,  the  "  Constitution  "  drew  slowly  ahead,  pouring  in  several 
destructive  broadsides,  and  then  luffed  slowly,  until  she  lay  right  athwart 
the  enemy's  bow.  While  in  this  position,  the  long  bowsprit  of  the 
"  Guerriere "  stretched  far  across  the  quarter-deck  of  the  American  ship, 
and  was  soon  fouled  in  the  mizzen-rigging  of  the  latter  vessel.  Then  the 
two  ,ships  swung  helplessly  around,  so  that  the  bow  of  the  Englishman 
lay  snugly  against  the  port-quarter  of  the  Yankee  craft.     Instantly,  from 


\m 

,ij;'f8f 

m 

H 

'ShI 

'■'; 

wt 

Tiilj 

uml 

^ 

u 

fil 

iiS 


BMIK-JACKKTS   OF    i,Si2. 


the  deck  of  each  ship  ran};  out  the  short,  sharp  blare  of  the  l)iii;le,  calliiiij 
away  the  boarders,  wlio  sprang;  from  their  {^iiiis,  seized  their  heavy  boarding; 
caps  and  cutlasses,  and  rushed  to  the  side.  Hut  a  heavy  sea  was  rollini:; 
and  tossing;  the  two  frij^ates,  so  that  boardin<jj  seemed  impossdile  ;  and,  as 
Uacres  saw  the  crowtl  of  men  ready  to  receive  his  boarders,  he  called 
them  back  to  the  j^uns.  Althouj;h  each  party  stuck  to  its  own  ship,  the 
fi};htin}r  was  almost  hantt  to  hand.  Pistols  were  freely  used  ;  and  from 
the  tops  rained  down  a  ceaseless  hail  of  leaden  missiles,  one  of  which 
wounded  Capt.  Dacres  slij;htly.  So  near  to  each  other  were  the  com- 
batants, that  the  commands  and  the  cries  of  ra<;e  and  pain  could  be 
heard  above  the  deep-toned  thunder  of  the  };reat  j^uns  and  the  ceaseless 
rattle  of  the  musketry.  The  protruding  muzzles  of  the  guns  often  touched 
the  sides  of  the  opposing  ship  ;  and  when  the  cannon  were  drawn  in  for 
loading,  the  sailors  on  either  side  thrust  muskets  and  pistols  through  the 
ports,  and  tried  to  pick  off  the  enemy  at  his  guns. 

While  the  fight  was  thus  raging,  a  cry  of  "  I'ire ! "  horrified  every 
one  on  the  "Constitution."  Mames  were  seen  coming  from  the  windows 
of  the  cabin,  which  lay  directly  beneath  the  bow-guns  of  the  "  (iuerriere." 
The  fire  had  been  set  by  the  flash  from  the  enemy's  cannon,  so  close 
were  the  two  ships  together.  ]?y  the  strenuous  exertions  of  the  men  on 
duty  in  the  cabin,  the  flames  were  c.Ktinguished,  and  this,  the  greatest  of 
all  dangers,  averted.  Shortly  after,  the  gun  which  had  caused  the  trouble 
was  disabled  by  a  skilful  shot  from  one  of  the  Yankee's  guns. 

While  the  flames  in  the  cabin  were  being  extinguished,  the  Americans 
were  making  a  valiant  attempt  to  board  and  Lieut.  Morris  with  his  own 
hands  was  attempting  to  lash  the  two  ships  together.  Abandoning  this 
attempt,  he  leaped  upon  the  taffrail,  and  called  upon  his  men  to  follow 
him.  Lieut.  Hush  of  the  marines,  and  Mr.  Alwyn,  were  soon  at  the  side 
of  the  intrepid  oflficer,  when,  at  a  sudden  volley  of  musketry  from  the 
British,  all  three  fell  back,  poor  Hush  dead,  and  the  two  others  badly 
wounded.  The  ships  then  drifted  asunder;  and  the  "  Guerriere's  "  foremast 
was  shot  away,  and  tlragged  down  the  mainmast  with  it  in  its  fall.  The 
shattered   ship  now  lay  a  shapeless  hulk,  tossing  on  the  waves,  but  still 


»' 


I 


*^ 


i,i£5aiL.-s^  . 


:,  S-fJw'**" 


CONSTITUTION   AND   GUERRIERE. 


II 


M  I 

ill 


f  I 
lit 


^'V^ 


N 


( 


.; 


\ 


Hl.UK-JACKK'lS   OF    iSu. 


121 


kcL'piii";  a  Hritish  cnsij^ni  defiantly  flyinj^'  from  the  stump  of  lie-  fallen 
mizzcn-mast. 

The  "Constitution"  drew  away,  firinj;  continually,  and  soon  secured 
a  rakin;^  position;  seeing  which,  the  liritish  hauled  down  their  colors. 
Lieut.  Read  was  sent  on  board  the  prize,  and,  on  the  appearance  of  Capt. 
Dacres,  said,  — 

"Capt.  Hull  presents  his  compliments,  sir,  and  wishes  to  know  if  you 
have  struck  your  flag." 

Dacres  looked  significantly  at  the  shattered  masts  of  his  ship,  ami 
responded  dryly,  — 

"Well,  I  don't  know.  Our  mizzen-mast  i.s  gone,  our  main-mast  is  gone; 
and  I  think,  on  the  whole,  you  may  say  that  we  have  struck  our  flag." 

After  looking  about  the  ship,  the  boarding  officer  stejiped  to  the  side, 
to  return  to  his  own  vessel,     liefore  leaving,  he  said  to  Capt.  Dacres,  — 

"  Would  you  like  the  assistance  of  a  surgeon,  or  surgeon's  mate,  in 
caring  for  your  wounded  .••  " 

Dacres  looked  surprised,  and  responded,  — 

"  Well,  I  should  suppose  you  had  on  board  your  own  ship  business 
enough  for  all  your  medical  officers." 

"Oh,  no!"  answered  Read.  "We  have  only  seven  wounded,  and  they 
have  been  dressed  long  ago." 

Dacres  was  astounded,  as  well  he  might  be ;  for  on  the  decks  of  his 
ship  lay  twenty-three  dead  or  mortally  wounded  men,  while  the  surgeons 
were  doing  their  best  to  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  fifty-six  wounded,  among 
whom  were  several  officers.  Indeed,  the  ship  looked  like  a  charnel-house. 
When  Capt.  Orne,  freed  by  the  result  of  the  battle,  came  on  deck,  he 
saw  a  sight  that  he  thus  describes:  "At  about  half-past  seven  o'clock,  I 
went  on  deck,  and  there  beheld  a  sccMie  which  it  would  be  difficult  to 
describe.  All  the  '  Gucrriere's '  masts  were  shot  away ;  and,  as  she  had 
no  .sails  to  steady  her,  she  was  rolling  like  a  log  in  the  trough  of  the 
sea.  Many  of  the  men  were  employed  in  throwing  the  dead  overboard. 
The  decks  were  covered  with  blood,  and  had  the  appearance  of  a  ship's 
slaughter-house.     The  gun-tackles  were  not  made  fast  ;  and  several  of  the 


,;,.'-'i!^ 


122 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


guns  got  loose,  and  were  surging  from  one  side  to  the  other.  Some  of 
the  petty  1  (Ticers  and  seamen  got  liquor,  and  were  intoxicated ;  and  what 
with  the  groans  of  the  wounded,  the  noise  and  confusion  of  the  enraged 
survivors  on  board  of  the  ill-fated  ship,  rendered  the  whole  scene  a  perfect 
hell." 

For  some  time  after  the  "Guerriere"  had  been  formally  taken  posses- 
sion of,  it  seemed  as  though  the  "  Constitution "  would  have  to  fight  a 
second  battle,  to  keep  possession  of  her  prize.  A  strange  sail  was  seen 
upon  the  horizon,  bearing  down  upon  the  "  Constitution  "  in  a  way  that 
seemed  to  threaten  hostilities.  Again  the  drums  beat  to  quarters,  and 
once  again  the  tired  cre\^  went  to  their  stations  at  the  guns.  But  the 
strange  ship  sheered  off,  and  the  gallant  crew  were  not  forced  to  fight  a 
second  battle.  All  hands  then  set  to  work  to  remove  the  prisoners  from 
the  "  Guerriere,"  which  was  evidently  in  a  sinking  condition. 

In  the  first  boat-load  from  the  sinking  ship  came  Capt.  Dacres,  who 
was  politely  shown  into  Capt.  Hull's  cabin.  Unclasping  his  sword  from 
its  place  at  his  hip,  the  conquered  seamaii  handed  it  silently  to  Capt. 
Hull.     The  victor  put  it  gently  back,  saying,  — 

"No,  no,  captain:  I'll  not  take  a  sword  from  one  who  knows  so  well 
how  to  use  it.     But  I  will  trouble  you  for  that  hat." 

For  a  moment  a  shade  of  perplexity  passed  over  the  brow  of  the 
British  captain  ;  then  he  recollected  the  wager  of  a  year  or  two  before, 
and  all  was  clear  again.  Unfortunately,  the  veracious  chronicler  who 
has  handed  this  anecdote  down  to  modern  times  has  failed  to  state 
whether  the  debt  was  duly  paid. 

After  some  hours  of  hard  work  with  the  boats,  the  last  of  the 
prisoners,  with  their  effects,  were  brought  on  board  the  "Constitution." 
Torches  were  tlicn  set  to  the  abandoned  frigate  ;  and  the  sailors  watched 
her  blaze,  until  the  fire  reached  her  magazine,  and  she  vanished  in  the 
midst  of  a  tremendous  explosion.  Then,  leaving  behind  her  the  floating 
mass  of  ruin,  the  "  Constitution  "  headed  for  Boston,  where  she  arrived 
after  a  few  days  of  sailing. 

Great  was  the  excitement   and   exultation   aroused   among   the   people 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


123 


by  the  arrival  of  the  noble  ship  with  her  prisoners.  She  had,  indeed, 
come  at  a  time  when  the  public  mind  required  cheering  ;  for  from  the 
interior  came  the  reports  of  British  successes  by  land,  along  the  Canadian 
frontier  about  Detroit,  and  for  weeks  the  papers  had  been  unable  to 
record  any  success  for  the  American  arms.  But  the  report  of  the 
engagement  with  the  "Guerriere"  changed  wholly  the  tide  of  popular 
feeling.  Boston — the  city  which  at  the  declaration  of  war  had  hung  its 
flags  at  half-mast,  in  token  of  mourning  and  humiliation  —  Boston  wel- 
comed the  conquerors  with  an  ovation  like  to  a  triumph  in  the  days  of 
imperial  Rome. 

When  the  ship  came  up  the  harbor,  she  was  met  and  surrounded 
by  a  great  flotilla  of  gayly  decorated  boats  ;  while  the  flags  on  the  sur- 
rounding vessels  were  dipped  in  salutation  as  the  war-scarred  veteran 
made  her  stately  way  to  the  wharf.  Here  a  volunteer  artillery  company 
was  assembled;  and,  as  the  ship  came  up,  they  fired  a  national  salute, 
which  was  returned  from  the  guns  so  lately  employed  in  defending  the 
national  honor.  Quarters  had  been  prepared  for  Capt.  Mull  in  the  city  ; 
and,  as  he  landed,  he  found  the  streets  through  which  he  must  pass 
decked  with  bright  bunting,  and  crowded  with  people.  His  progress  was 
accompanied  by  a  great  wave  of  cheers  ;  for,  as  the  people  saw  him  com- 
ing, they  set  up  a  shout,  v/hich  was  not  ended  until  he  had  passed  from 
sight.  Ai  night  came  a  grand  banquet  to  the  officers  of  the  ship,  at 
which  six  hundred  sat  down  to  the  feast.  The  freedom  of  the  city  was 
presented  to  the  captain;  and  at  a  later  date  ctme  the  news  of  sword  pres- 
entations from  citizeii/.  of  Nevv  Vc-k,  plate  from  the  people  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  gold  medals  from  Congress  Amid  all  the  exultation,  the  rash 
arrogance  of  the  British  writers  was  not  forgotten  ;  and  many  a  bumper 
was  emptied  to  the  success  of  the  frigate  described  by  British  journalists 
as  "a  bunch  of  pine  boards  under  a  bit  of  striped  bunting." 


U  t; 


ijf  'I 


fiT.; 


"^^o^tS^^-^^ 


f^B^. 


CHAPTER   V. 


AN    INTKUNVnoXAl,    DEHATE.  -  THK    "  WASl'"    AXn    THE    "  EROLIC'-THE    "UN'ITEO 
STATES"  AND  THE  "  MACEDONIAN." -OVATIONS  TO  THE  VICIOUS. 


I 


ii 


i'li 


\'^ 


villi 


it.o_cr^, IHE  rejoicing  over  the  success  of  the  "Constitution"  had  not 
died  away  in  the  United  States  when  the  I'.nglish  newspapers 
hegan  to  appear  with  elaborate  articles,  showing  just  why  the 
battle  had  terminated  as  it  did.  "  The  '  Constitution  '  is  the  crack 
frigate  of  the  American  navy,"  cried  the  apologists  ;  but  to  this  the  Ameri- 
cans retorted  by  quoting  the  British  description  of  the  ship  as  "a  bunch  of 
pine  boards."  The  "  Cuerrierc  "  was  an  "old  worn-out  frigate,"  responded 
the  Knglisli,  returning  to  the  charge.  "She  was  on  her  way  to  Halifax 
to  refit,  when  attacked."  Again  they  were  refuted  by  their  own  state- 
ments;  for,  but  a  month  before,  the  "  Guerriere  "  was  said  to  be  "able  to 
drive  the  insolent  striped  br.nting  from  the  seas."  Throughout  the  dis- 
cussion, the  shrewdness  of  the  Americans  enabled  them  to  meet  the  argu- 
ments of  the  liritish  at  every  point ;  but  not  until  the  charge  was  made,  that 
the  "  Constitution  "   was  chiefly  manned  by  British  sailors,  did  the  people 

become  thoroughly  in  earnest  in  the  war  of  words. 
124 


BLUE-TACKETS   OF    1812. 


I2i 


§) 


Such  a  charge  as  this  was  adding  insult  to  injury.  Was  not  the  British 
navy  full  of  Americans  who  were  forced  against  their  will  to  serve  against 
their  own  country,  while  the  few  Englishmen  on  the  "  Constitution  "  were 
enlisted  with  their  own  consent  ?  For  Capt.  Dacres  to  say  that  his  ship 
was  weakened  by  allowing  the  ten  Americans  to  go  below,  and  then  beaten 
by  the  efforts  of  the  Englishmen  on  the  "Constitution,"  was  merely  tanta- 
mount to  saying  that  the  victory  hinged  on  the  fact  that  Americans  would 
not  fight  against  their  own  country,  while  Englishmen  did  so  willingly.  But 
for  Great  Britain  to  e.xclaim  against  the  American  navy  because  it  harbored 
a  few  Englishmen,  was  the  rankest  hypocrisy.  So  said  the  American  jour- 
nalists of  the  day  ;  and,  in  support  of  their  statement,  they  printed  long  letters 
from  American  seamen  impressed  into  and  held  in  the  British  naval  service. 
One  writes  that  he  was  impressed  into  his  British  Majesty's  ship  "  Peacock," 
in  18 10,  and  after  serving  two  years  he  heard  of  the  declaration  of-  war. 
After  a  consultation  with  two  fellow-seamen,  both  Americans,  all  decided  to 
refuse  to  serve  longer,  claiming  to  be  prisoners  of  war.  But  the  captain 
under  whom  they  were  enrolled  looked  upon  the  matter  in  a  different  light. 
He  heard  their  claim,  pronounced  it  a  bit  of  "  confounded  insolence,"  and 
straightway  ordered  that  they  be  put  in  irons.  After  some  hours  for 
meditation  in  "the  brig,"  the  three  sailors  were  taken  to  the  gangway, 
stripped  naked,  and  tied  up,  while  a  sturdy  boatswain's  mate  laid  on  a 
dozen  and  a  half  blows  of  the  cat.  Later,  when  the  ship  went  into 
action  with  a  United  States  vessel,  the  three  sailors  asked  to  be  sent 
below,  that  they  night  not  fight  against  their  own  countrymen  ;  but  the 
c?  tain's  sole  response  was  to  call  up  a  midshi])man.  and  order  him  to 
do  his  duty.  This  duty  proved  to  consist  in  standing  over  the  three 
malcontents  with  a  loaded  ]iistol,  threatening  to  blow  out  the  brains  of 
the  first  who  should  flinch  from    his  work. 

Three  sadors  were  impressed  after  the  war  had  begun.  Learning  that 
the  ship  on  which  they  found  themselves  was  to  cruise  upon  the  Ameri- 
can station,  they  with  one  accord  refused  to  serve.  The  response  to  this 
was  "five  dozen  lashes  wc-U  laid  on."  Being  still  mutinous,  thev  received 
four  dozen  laihes  two  days   later,  and    after  the    lapse   of   two  nv^re  ''ays 


Ui 


: ''l' 


I :  , 


rt'f; 


126 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


were  flogged  with  two  dozen  more.  But  all  the  beating  to  which  they 
were  subjected  could  not  compel  them  to  serve  against  their  country ; 
and  they  were  accordingly  ironed  and  thrown  into  "the  brig,"  where  they 
lay  for  three  months.  When  released  from  "  the  brig,"  they  found  the 
ship  at  London.  Here  they  heard  of  the  glorious  victory  of  the  "Con- 
stitution," and  determined  to  celebrate  it.  By  ripping  up  their  clothing 
into  strips,  and  sewing  the  strips  together,  a  rude  American  flag  was 
made  ;  and  with  the  most  astonishing  audacity  the  three  sailors  hung  this 
emblem  over  a  gun,  and  gave  three  cheers  for  the  stars  and  stripes. 
This  naturally  brought  thc:r.  another  flogging. 

Flogging,  however,  couVi    ■^' '    uhvays  be  resorted  to  in  order  to  bring 
American    sailors    into    subject.  It    is   estimated,  that,  when   war  was 

declared,  there  were  five  times  a.s  many  American  seamen  in  the  British 
navy  as  were  in  the  whole  navy  of  the  United  States.  To  att^-mpt  to 
keep  this  immense  body  of  disaffected  seamen  in  order  by  the  lush,  would 
have  been  impracticable  ;  and  soon  the  custom  arose  of  sending  the  more 
refractory  tars  into  confinement  at  some  English  prison.  Dartmoor  prison 
was  for  a  time  the  principal  place  of  detention  for  pressed  men  ;  but,  as 
it  soon  became  crowded,  it  was  given  over  to  prisoners  of  war,  and  the 
hapless  seamen  were  sent  to  languish  in  dismantled  ships,  known  as  "hulks." 
These  hulks  were  generally  old  naval  vessels,  dismasted  and  stripped  of 
all  their  fittings.  Anchored  midstream  in  tidal  rivers,  the  rotting  hulks 
tugged  at  their  rusty  chains,  as  the  tide  rose  and  fell,  groaning  in  their 
bondage,  and  seeming  as  much  imprisoned  as  the  wretched  sailors  by 
whom  they  were  tenanted.  The  captives  lived  in  misery  and  sciualor. 
Crowded  together  in  stifling  cjuartcrs  between  decks,  they  were  the  prey 
of  vermin  of  all  kinds.  Their  miserable"  diet,  and  lack  of  proper  e.xercise, 
caused  the  scurvy  in  its  most  repulsive  forms  to  break  out  among  them. 
The  only  breath  of  fresh  air  they  could  obtain  was  when,  in  gangs,  they 
were  allowed  to  go  on  deck,  and  pace  up  and  down  under  the  watchful 
eyes  of  soldiery;  then  back  to  the  crowded  quarters  below,  to  swelter  in 
sununer  or  freeze  in  winter.  Such  was  their  punishment  for  the  crime 
of  being  loyal  to  their  country. 


PRISONERS   IN   THE   HULKS. 


I    1  !| 


!i 


,'M 


(   ! 


1.1 


m 


■■ill- 


^~  i? 


■•Slii:!: 
■■  a'*    . 


4 


_1). 


I 


\ 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


129 


Careful  estimates  show  that  at  this  time  there  were  at  least  twenty 
thousand  American  sailors  in  the  liritish  navy,  each  one  of  whom  was 
liable  at  any  moment  to  be  ordered  into  this  inhuman  captivity.  A 
British  official  document  of  18 12  reported  that  2,548  American  seamen 
had  been  imprisoned  for  refusing  to  serve  against  their  country.  Hun- 
dreds of  these  were  sent  to  the  living  death  in  the  hulks.  Was  it  any 
wonder  that,  with  such  facts  before  their  eyes,  Americans  grew  indignant 
at  hearing  that  the  victory  of  the  "  Constitution  "  had  been  won  by  the 
prowess  of  British  seamen  }  But  before  many  days  fiad  passed,  a  victory 
was  recorded  for  the  stars  and  stripes,  which  not  even  the  acuteness  of 
an  English  naval  historian  could  ascribe  to  any  cause  other  than  the 
naval  superiority  of  the  victor. 

This  was  the  capture,  by  the  United  States  sloop-of-war  "  Wasp,"  of 
the  British  sloop-of-war  "  Frolic,"  after  a  battle  ever  memorable  for  the 
extraordinary  dash  and  bravery  shown  by  each  combatant.  In  size,  the 
"Wasp"  was  one  of  the  inferior  vessels  of  the  United  States  navy.  In 
her  architecture  and  appointments,  however,  she  was  the  pride  of  the 
navy,  and  was  often  cited  as  a  model  ship  of  her  class.  Her  armament 
consisted  of  si.xteen  thirty-two-pounder  carronade  ,  and  two  "  long 
twelves." 

When  the  war  broke  out,  the  "Wasp"  had  just  left  the  coast  of 
Europe,  bearing  despatches  from  the  foreign  diplomatic  representatives 
of  the  United  States  to  the  Government.  It  was  accordingly  near  the 
middle  of  October  before  the  sloop  had  been  refitted,  and,  with  a  crew 
of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  men,  left  the  Delaware,  on  her  first  cruise 
against  the  English.  Her  commander  was  Capt.  Jacob  Jones,  who  had 
served  in  the  war  with  Tripoli,  and  had  himself  been  a  captive  among 
the  barbarians  of  Northern  Africa. 

After  a  few  days'  cruising,  with  one  or  two  unimportant  captures,  a 
bunch  of  sails  was  sighted  at  some  distance.  The  most  careful  exami- 
nation failed  to  reveal  the  character  of  the  strangers,  and  Jones  deter- 
mined to  run  down  cautiously  toward  the  squadron,  to  reconnoitre.  The 
wind  was  blowing   fiercely  at   the   time,  and   a   heavy    sea    was    running. 


l\: 


^r\ 


V 


:i'l 
!.il 


m  i5 


(■■(■ 


flrl 


1  ; 


I  ■ ., 


»'i'^ 


ii 


3: 


I' 


■ 


I 


130 


BLUE-JACKFCTS  OF    181 2. 


from  the  effects  of  a  gale  of  the  day  before,  in  which  the  "Wasp"  lost 
her  jib-boom,  together  with  two  sailors  who  were  upon  it.  As  the  vessel 
bore  down  upon  the  strangers,  Jones  could  see  through  his  marine 
glasses  that  they  were  a  convoy  of  merchantmen,  under  the  protection 
of  a  liritish  sloop-of-war.  The  merchantmen  were  evidently  armed,  and 
some  seemed  to  carry  as  many  as  twfelve  guns.  Deeming  it  unwise  to 
attack  at  that  moment,  Capt.  Jones  kept  on  a  course  parallel  with  that 
of  the  enemy,  during  the  remainder  of  that  day  and  through  the  night. 
With  the  break  of  (fay,  every  officer  of  the  "Wasp"  was  on  deck,  and  all 
eyes  were  turned  towards  the  quarter  in  which  the  Englishmen  should 
be  found.  There,  sure  enough,  they  were.  Si.\  merchant  ships  and  a 
bluff  little  brig,  the  port-holes  in  the  sides  of  which  showed  her  to  be 
a  war-vessel  rating  as  a  sloop.  Signs  of  activity  on  board  made  it 
evident  that  the  Englishmen  had  caught  sight  of  the  vessel  which  had 
been  dogging  them  for  the  last  day,  and  were  making  ready  to  give  her 
battle.  The  British,  too,  had  suffered  in  the  gale,  and  the  sailors  could  be 
seen  shipping  a  new  main-yard,  and  setting  new  topsails.  On  the  "Wasp," 
the  jackies  were  hard  at  work,  getting  in  a  spar  to  take  the  place  of  the 
jib-boom,  which  had  been  lost  in  the  storm.  Both  ships  were  under  short 
canvas,  for  the  wind  was  still  high.  Instead  of  the  English  ensign,  a 
Spanish  flag  fluttered  from  the  halliards  of  the  Englishman,  —  an  unneces- 
sary ruse  to  drav;  on  an  adversary  already  seeking  a  conflict. 

It  was  half-past  eleven  in  the  morning  when  the  action  began.  The 
day  was  an  ideal  October  morning  at  sea,  — cool,  clear,  and  a  breeze  blowing 
fresh  and  constantly  stiffening.  The  two  vessels  were  running  on  the  star- 
board tack,  not  si.xty  yards  apart.  As  they  ploughed  through  the  waves,  great 
clouds  of  spray  dashed  over  the  bows  ;  and  every  now  and  then  a  wave  would 
sweep  over  the  forecastle,  drenching  the  jackies  as  they  stood  at  their  quar- 
ters. As  they  sped  along,  the  two  ships  exchanged  broadsides,  the  "  Frolic  " 
firing  three  to  the  "  Wasp's "  two.  After  every  broadside,  the  gunners 
cheered  as  they  saw  the  damage  done  by  their  fire.  When  the  state  of  the 
sea  is  considered,  it  seems  marvellous  that  the  broadsides  should  have  done 
any  execution  whatever.     The  vessels  were  rolling  terribly,  now  wallowing 


i. 


I  f'l 


BLUK-JACKKTS   OF    1812. 


131 


in  the  trough  of  the  sea,  and  again  tossed  high  on  the  crest  of  some  enor- 
mous wave.  At  one  instant  the  muzzles  of  the  guns  would  be  pointed 
toward  the  skies,  then  actually  submerged  under  the  waves,  from  which  they 
rose  dripping,  to  be  loaded  and  fired  before  another  dip  should  soak  the 
charge.     Yet,  with  all  this  rolling  to  spoil  their  aim,  the  gunners  of  both 


im' 


i 


i-M 


LdAMNG. 


ships  pointed  their  pieces  with  most  destructive  effect.  Within  five  minutes 
from  the  time  of  opening  fire,  the  main  top-mast  of  the  "Wasp"  was  shot 
away,  and  hung  tangled  in  the  rigging,  despite  the  active  efforts  of  the  top- 
men,  headed  by  the  nimble  midshipmen,  to  clear  away  the  wreck.  This 
greatly  hampered  the  movements  of  the  American  vessel ;  and  when,  a  few 
minutes  later,  the  gaff  and  the  main  top-gallant  mast  fell,  the  chances  of  the 
American  ship  seemed  poor  indeed.  The  effects  of  the  "  Wasp's  "  fire  were 
chiefly  to  be  seen  in  the  hull  of  her  antagonist ;  but  the  first  twenty  minutes 


1! 


I     !  ! 

I  ; 


132 


BLUE-JACKKTS   OK    1S12. 


I    I 


I  ;     I 


of  the  fight  seemed  to  give  the  I-Jiglishmim  every  chance  of  victory, 
since  his  fire  had  so  cut  away  tlie  rigging  of  the  "Wasp"  that  slie  be- 
came unmanageable.  It  is  said  that  the  difference  between  the  execution 
done  by  the  two  batteries  was  due  to  the  fact  that  the  Hritish  fired  as 
their  ship  was  rising  on  the  crest  of  the  wave,  while  the  Americans  fired 
from  the  trough  of  the  sea,  sending  their  shot  into  the  hull  of  the  enemy. 

While  the  fight  was  raging,  the  two  ships  were  constantly  drawing 
nearer  together  ;  and  just  as  it  seemed  as  though  the  destruction  wrought 
in  the  "  Wasp's  "  rigging  would  inevitably  lead  to  her  defeat,  the  two 
vessels  fouled.  For  an  instant  they  lay  yard-arm  to  yard-arm,  and  at 
that  very  moment  the  AnvM-ican  gunners  poured  in  a  terrific  broadside. 
So  close  were  the  two  vessels  to  each  other,  that,  in  loading,  the  rammers 
were  shoved  up  against  the  sides  of  the  "  Frolic."  Before  the  gunners 
of  the  "  l"'rolic  "  could  respond  to  this  broadside,  their  ship  swung  round 
so  that  her  bow  lay  against  the  "  Wasji's "  quarter;  and  her  bowsprit 
])assed  over  the  heads  of  Capt.  Jones  and  his  ofificcrs  as  they  stood  on 
the  c|uarter-deck.  That  was  the  moment  for  a  raking  volley ;  and  with 
deadly  aim  the  Americans  poured  it  in,  and  the  heavy  iron  bolts  swept 
the  decks  of  the  "I*'rolic"  from  stem  to  stern. 

This  turn  in  the  tide  of  battle  fairly  crazed  with  excitement  the  sailors 
of  the  "  Wasp."  With  ringing  cheers  they  applauded  the  success  of  the 
last  volley,  and,  springing  into  the  hammock-nettings,  called  loudly  for 
their  officers  to  lead  them  on  board  the  English  ship.  From  the  quarter- 
deck, Capt.  Jones,  with  shouts  and  gestures,  strove  to  hold  back  the 
excited  men  until  another  broadside  could  be  given  the  enemy.  But  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  sailors  was  beyond  all  control.  All  at  once,  they  saw 
a  sailor  from  New  Jersey,  named  Jack  Lang,  spring  on  a  gun,  cutlass  in 
hand,  ready  to  board.  All  were  about  to  follow  him,  when  Capt.  Jones 
called  him  down.  Only  for  a  minute  did  Jack's  sense  of  duty  overcome  his 
enthusiasm  ;  and  then,  remembering  that  he  had  once  been  impressed  on 
the  "  Frolic,"  his  rage  blazed  up,  and  in  an  instant  he  was  clambering  over 
the  nettings,  calling  for  followers.  Capt.  Jones  saw  that  the  ardor  of  his 
crew  was  beyond  his  control,  and  ordered  the  bugler  to  call  away  the  board- 


BOARDING  THE   FROLIC. 


1    ! 


I.  u 


n.  M; 


Hi 


^  it 


i; 


!  J) 

!      I    ■     ' 


i  1 

B  il 


I  ) 


I     I 


BLUE-JACK  LIS  OF    1812. 


135 


r    i 


ers.  Headed  by  their  officers,  the  bold  tars  swarmed  over  the  iKttiiifjjs, 
and  throuj^h  the  tangled  rigging,  to  the  deck  of  the  enemy's  ship.  I'.ach 
man  clutched  his  cutlass  viciously,  for  he  felt  that  a  desperate  conflict  was 
imminent.  lUit  when  they  dropped  upon  the  deck  of  the  "  I'rolic,"  a  most 
unexpected  spectacle  met  their  eyes. 

The  broad  deck  stretched  out  before  them,  untenanted  save  by  a  few 
wounded  officers  near  the  stern,  and  a  grim  old  British  seaman  at  the 
wheel.  Instead  of  the  host  of  armed  men  with  whom  the  boarders 
expected  to  dispute  the  possession  of  the  ship,  they  saw  before  them 
only  heaps  of  dead  sailors  lying  about  the  guns  which  they  had  been 
serving.  On  the  quarter-deck  lay  Capt.  Whinyates  and  Lieut.  Wintle, 
desperately  wounded.  All  who  were  unhurt  had  fled  below,  to  escape 
the  pitiless  fire  of  the  American  guns,  and  the  unerring  aim  of  the 
sailors  stationed  in  the  "Wasp's"  tops.  Only  the  old  helmsman  stood 
undaunted  at  his  post,  and  held  thr  ship  on  her  course,  even  while  the 
Americans  were  swarming  over  the  nettings  and  clambering  down  the 
bowsprit.  The  colors  were  still  flying  above  the  ship  ;  but  there  was  no 
one  left,  either  to  defend  them  or  to  haul  them  down,  and  they  were 
finally  lowered  by  the  hands  of  I.ieut.   Riddle,  who  led  the  boarding  party. 

No  action  of  the  war  was  so  sanguinary  as  this  short  conflict  between 
two  sloops-of-war.  The  "  Frolic "  went  into  action  with  a  crew  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  men,  fully  officered.  When  the  colors  were  hauled 
down,  only  twenty  men  were  uninjured.  Every  officer  was  wounded,  and 
of  the  crew  thirty  lost  their  lives.  They  had  stood  to  their  guns  with  the 
dogged  courage  of  the  English  sailor  at  his  best,  and  had  been  fairly 
mowed  down  by  the  destructive  fire  of  the  Americans.  On  the  "  Wasp," 
the  loss  of  life  was  slight.  The  shot  of  the  enemy  took  effect  in  the 
"gging  chiefly.  The  three  sailors  who  were  killed  were  topmen  at 
their  posts,  and  the  five  wounded  were  almost  all  stationed  in  the  rigging. 

The  Americans  were  not  destined  to  enjoy  their  triumph  long.  Shat- 
tered though  the  "  Frolic "  was,  Lieut.  Biddle,  with  a  prize-crew,  took 
charge  of  her,  and  was  in  hopes  of  taking  her  safely  to  port  ;  but  his 
plan  was  rudely  shattered  by  the  appearance  of  an  English   frigate,  only 


J  .  I  I 


^. 


m 


14 


i'  til 


'hi 


136 


BLUK-JACKETS  OF    1S12, 


( 


a  few  hours  after  the  action  ceased.  For  the  "  Frolic "  to  escape,  was 
out  of  the  question.  Hoth  her  masts  had  gone  by  the  board  shortly 
after   her   flag   was    struck ;    and,    when    the    new   enemy   hove    in    sight, 


•tr 


;c;- 


--1 — 


/■^ 


i>  isj 


t:    ;  if] 


^i. 


READV  TO   r.OAUD. 


(■ 


the  prize-crew  was  working  hard  to  clear  from  her  decks  the  tangled 
mass  of  rigging,  wreckage,  and  dead  bodies,  that  made  the  tasks  of  navi- 
gation impossible.  The  ship  was  rolling  like  a  log,  in  the  trough  of  the 
..ea,  and  was  an  easy  prize  for  an  enemy  of  even  less  strength  than 
the  man-of-war  which  was  then  bearing  down  upon  her. 


tir 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


137 


The  vessel  which  came  rapidly  down  before  the  wind  was  the  "  Poic- 
tiers,"  a  British  seventy-four-gun  ship,  which  would  have  been  more  than 
a  match  for  the  little  "  Wasp,"  even  though  the  latter  had  been  fresh 
and  ready  for  battle,  instead  of  shattered  by  desperate  fight.  Seeing  no 
chance  for  a  successful  resistance,  Capt.  Jones  determined  upon  flight, 
and  ordered  all  hands  aloft,  to  make  sail.  But  the  sails  when  shaken 
out  were  found  to  have  been  cut  tv^  pieces  by  the  "  I'Volic's  "  shot  ;  and 
the  "  Poictiers "  soon  came  alongside,  and  changed  the  triumph  of  the 
Americans  to  defeat. 

Though  Capt.  Jones  and  his  gallant  crew  were  thus  deprived  of  their 
hard-won  conquest,  they  received  their  full  meed  of  praise  from  their 
countrymen.  They  were  soon  exchanged,  voted  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  prize-money  by  Congress,  and  lauded  by  every  newspaper  and 
legislative  orator  in  the  country.  The  song-writers  of  the  day  under- 
took to  celebrate  in  verse  the  famous  victory,  and  produced  dozens  of 
songs,  of  which  the  following  stanza  may  be  taken  for  a  fair  sample:  — 


l.\ 


"  Like  the  fierce  bird  of  Jove  the  '  Wasp '  darted  forth, 

And  he  the  tale  told,  with  amazement  and  wo       r. 
She  hurled  on  the  foe  from  her  flame-spreading  arms, 

The  fire-brands  of  death  and  the  red  bolts  of  thunder. 
And,  oh !  it  was  glorious  and  strange  to  behold 

What  torrents  of  fire  from  her  red  mouth  she  threw; 
And  how  from  her  broad  wings  and  sul|)lnirous  sides. 

Hot  showers  of  grape-shot  and  riHe-balls  tlew  I " 

Let  us  now  turn  to  Commodore  John  Rodgers,  whose  unlucky  cruise 
at  the  opening  of  the  war  we  have  already  noted.  Having  refitted  his 
squadron  in  the  port  of  New  York,  he  set  sail  on  a  second  cruise, 
leaving  behind  him  the  "  Hornet."  Again  he  seemed  to  have  fallen 
upon  unprofitable  times,  for  his  ships  beat  up  and  down  in  the  highway 
of  commerce  without  sighting  a  single  sail.  After  several  days  of  inac- 
tion, it  was  determined  to  scatter  the  squadron ;  and  to  this  end  the 
frigate  "  United  States,"  Commodore  Decatur,  and  the   si.\teen-gun    brig 


138 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


il 


"  Argus,"  Capt.  Sinclair,  left  the  main  body  of  ships  and  started  off  on 
a  cruise  in  company.  After  the  two  ships  left  the  main  body.  Commo- 
dore Rodgers  met  with  better  success,  capturing  a  Jamaica  packet  with 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  her  hold,  and  chasing  a  British  frigate 
for  two  hours,  but  without  overhauling  her. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  "Argus"  had  parted  from  her  consort,  and  was 
cruising  to  the  eastward  on  her  own  account,  meeting  with  fair  success. 
During  her  cruise  she  captured  six  merchantmen,  and  was  herself  chased 
by  a  liritish  squarlron.  This  chase  was  almost  as  memorable  as  t''  *•  of 
the  "  Constitution  ; "  for  the  little  brig  was  hotly  pursued  for  three  .lays 
and  nights,  and,  to  escape  her  pursuers,  v/as  obliged  to  cut  away  her 
boats  and  anchors,  and  part  with  every  thing  movable  save  her  guns.  She 
escaped  at  last,  however,  and  was  for  many  months  thereafter  a  source  of 
continual  annoyance  to  the  commerce  of  the  enemy. 

After  parting  with  the  "Argus,"  the  "United  States"  had  made  her 
course  toward  the  south-east,  in  the  hopes  of  intercepting  some  of  the 
British  West-Indiamcn.  But  what  the  plucky  sailors  would  consider  better 
luck  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  frigate. 

At  dawn  on  a  bright  Sunday  morning,  the  lookout  of  the  "  United 
States "  descried  a  sail  about  twelve  miles  away,  on  the  weather-beam. 
Sail  was  crowded  on  the  American  frigate,  and,  urged  along  by  a  rattling 
breeze,  she  made  towards  the  stranger.  As  the  distance  between  the 
ships  lessened,  and  the  rigging  of  the  stranger  showed  her  to  be  a  frigate, 
the  enthusiasm  among  the  gallant  tars  of  the  "  United  States  "  grew  apace. 
Visions  of  battle,  of  glory,  and,  above  all,  of  resultant  prize-money,  arose 
in  their  minds ;  and  their  shouts  could  be  heard  by  the  crew  of  the  distant 
frigate  before  the  two  vessels  came  within  range  of  each  other. 

The  vessel  toward  which  the  "  United  States  "  was  advancing  was  the 
"  Macedonian,"  a  liritish  frigate  rating  thirty-eight  guns,  but  said  to  have 
been  carrying  forty-nine  at  this  time.  She  had  for  some  time  been 
reckoned  a  crack  ship  of  her  clasr  in  the  British  navy,  and  her  crew  was 
in  admirable  training.  From  her  quarter-deck  and  forecastle  groups  of 
officers  and  seamen  were  watching  the  on-commg  of  the  American  frigate. 


BLUr-HACKKTS  OF   1812. 


139 


One  of  the  powder-monkeys,  named  Samuel  Leech,  of  the  British  ship, 
told  graphically  and  simply  the  story  of  that  day's  doings  on  the 
"  Macedonian." 

"Sunday  (Dec.  25,  I8^2)  came,  and  it  brought  with  it  a  stiff  breeze," 
so  runs  the  powder-monkey's  tale.  "We  usually  made  a  sort  of  holiday 
of  this  sacred  day.  After  breakfast  it  was  common  to  muster  the  entire 
crew  on  the  spar-deck,  dressed  as  the  fancy  of  the  captain  might  tlic- 
tatc, — sometimes  in  blue  jackets  and  white  trousers,  or  blue  jackets  antl 
blue  trousers ;  at  other  times  in  blue  jackets,  scarlet  vests,  and  blue  or 
white  trousers ;  with  our  bright  anchor-buttons  glancing  in  the  sun,  and 
our  black,  glossy  hats  ornamented  with  black  ribbons,  and  the  name 
of  our  ship  [  tinted  on  them.  After  muster  we  frequently  had  church- 
service  read  by  the  captain ;  the  rest  of  the  day  was  devoted  to  idleness. 
But  we  were  destined  to  spend  the  rest  of  the  sabbath  just  introduced 
to  the  reader  in  a  very  different  manner. 

"We  had  scarcely  finished  breakfast  before  the  man  at  the  masthead 
shouted  '  Sail,  ho  ! ' 

"The  captain  rushed  upon  deck,  exclaiming,  'Masthead,  there!' 

"  '  Sir  ? ' 

" '  Where  away  is  the  sail  .-• ' 

"  The  precise  answer  to  this  question  I  do  not  recollect ;  but  the 
captain  proceeded  to  ask,  'What  does  she  look  like.'*' 

"'A  square-rigged  vessel,  sir,'  was  the  reply  of  the  lookout. 

"  After  a  few  minutes,  the  captain  shouted  again,  '  Masthead,  there ! ' 

"  '  Sir  > ' 

"'What  does  she  look  like.>' 

"'A  large  ship,  sir,  standing  toward  us.' 

"  By  this  time,  most  of  the  crew  were  on  deck,  eagerly  straining 
their  eyes  to  obtain  a  glimpse  of  the  approaching  ship,  and  murmuring  tlieir 
opinions  to  each  other  on  her  probable  character. 

"Then  came  the  voice  of  the  captain,  shouting,  'Keep  silence,  fore 
and  aft!' 

"  Silence  being  secured,  he  hailed  the  lookout,  who  to  his  question  of 


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BLUE-JACKETS   OF    181 2. 


'  What  does  she  look  like  ? '  replied,  "  A  large  frigate  bearing  down  upon 
us,  sir.' 

"A  whisper  ran  along  the  crew,  that  the  stranger  ship  was  a  Yankee 
frigate.  The  thought  was  confirmed  by  the  command  of  '  All  hands  clear 
the  ship  for  action,  ahoy  ! '  The  drum  and  fife  beat  to  quarters,  bulk- 
heads were  knocked  away,  the  guns  were  released  from  their  confinement, 
the  whole  dread  paraphernalia  of  battle  was  produced  ;  and,  after  the 
lapse  of  a  few  minutes  of  hurry  and  confusion,  every  man  and  boy  was 
at  his  post  ready  to  do  his  best  service  for  his  country,  except  the  band, 
who,  claiming  exemption  from  the  affray,  safely  stowed  themselves  away 
in  the  cable  tier.  We  had  only  one  sick  man  on  the  list ;  and  he,  at 
the  cry  of  battle,  hurried  from  his  cot,  feeble  as  he  was,  to  take  his  post 
of  danger.  A  few  of  the  junior  midshipmen  were  stationed  below  on  the 
berth-deck,  with  orders,  given  in  our  hearing,  to  shoot  any  man  who 
attempted  to  move  from  his  quarters. 

"As  the  approaching  ship  showed  American  colors,  all  doubt  of  her 
character  was  at  an  end.  '  We  must  fight  her,'  was  the  conviction  of  every 
breast.  Every  possible  arrangement  that  could  insure  success  was  accord- 
ingly made.  The  guns  were  shotted,  the  matches  lighted  ;  for,  although 
our  guns  were  all  furnished  with  first-class  locks,  they  were  also  furnished 
with  matches,  attached  by  lanyards,  in  case  the  lock  should  miss  fire. 
A  lieutenant  then  passed  through  the  ship,  directing  the  marines  and 
boarders  —  who  were  furnished  with  pikes,  cutlasses,  and  pistols  —  how 
to  proceed  if  it  should  be  necessary  to  board  the  enemy.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  captain,  who  exhorted  the  men  to  fidelity  and  courage,  urging 
upon  their  consideration  the  well-known  motto  of  the  brave  Nelson, 
'England  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty.'  In  addition  to  all  these 
preparations  on  deck,  some  men  were  stationed  in  the  tops  with  small- 
arms,  whose  duty  it  was  to  attend  to  trimming  the  sails,  and  to  use  their 
muskets,  provided  we  came  to  close  action.  There  were  others,  also, 
below,  called  sail-trimmers,  to  assist  in  working  the  ship,  should  it  be 
necessary  to  shift  her  position  during  the  battle." 

Thus,  with  her  men  at  their  quarters,  her  guns  primed,  and   matches 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


141 


lighted,  the  "  Macedonian "  bore  down  to  open  the  action.  On  the 
"  United  States,"  very  similar  scenes  were  being  enacted.  In  some 
respects,  the  American  frigate  was  a  more  formidable  ship  than  the  adver- 
sary she  was  about  to  engage.  Her  battery  consisted  of  fifty-four  guns, 
and  some  were  of  heavier  calibre  than  those  of  the  "  Macedonian."  Her 
crew,  too,  was  rather  larger  than  that  of  her  adversary.  Hut,  in  most 
respects,  the  ships  were  well  matched.  Indeed,  the  commanders  of  the 
two  ships  had  met  before  the  opening  of  the  war,  and,  in  conversation, 
agreed  that  their  vessels  were  well  fitted  to  test  the  comparative  valor  of 
Yankee  and  English  sailors.  Capt.  Garden  of  the  "Macedonian  "  had  asked 
Decatur  what  would  be  the  probable  result,  if  the  two  ships  were  to  meet 
in  battle. 

"Why,  sir,"  responded  the  American  captain,  "if  we  meet  with  forces 
that  might  be  fairly  called  equal,  the  conflict  would  be  severe  ;  but  the  flag 
of  my  country  on  the  ship  I  command  shall  never  leave  the  staff  on  which  it 
waves,  as  long  as  there  is  a  hull  to  support  it." 

Such  sentiments  as  this  were  ever  in  the  heart  of  the  gallant  Decatur, 
whose  service  in  the  war  of  1812  was  but  the  continuation  of  his  dashing 
career  during  the  war  with  Tripoli.  A  captain  of  such  ardent  bravery  could 
not  fail  to  inspire  his  crew  with  the  same  enthusiasm  and  confidence. 

In  the  crew  of  the  "United  States"  were  many  young  boys,  of  ages 
ranging  from  twelve  to  fourteen  years.  At  that  time  many  a  lad  received 
his  warrant  as  midshipman  while  still  in  his  tenth  year;  and  youngsters 
who  wished  to  join  the  navy  as  "ship's  boys,"  were  always  received, 
although  sometimes  their  extreme  youth  made  it  illegal  for  their  names 
to  be  formally  enrolled  upon  the  roster  of  the  crew.  Such  was  the  sta- 
tion of  little  Jack  Creamer,  a  ten-year-old  boy,  who  had  been  serving 
on  the  ship  for  some  weeks,  although  under  the  age  at  which  he  could 
be  legally  enlisted.  When  Jack  saw  the  ICnglish  frigate  looming  up  in 
the  di-stance,  a  troubled  look  came  over  his  face,  and  he  seemed  to  be 
revolving  some  grave  problem  in  his  mind.  His  comrades  noticed  his 
look  of  care,  and  rallied  him  on  what  they  supposed  to  be  his  fear  f)f 
the   coming  conflict.     Jack   stoutly  denied   this   charge,  but   said    he  was 


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BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1S12. 


anxious  :o  speak  to  the  captain  before  going  into  action.  An  old 
quartermaster  marched  him  up  to  the  quarter-deck,  and  stood  waiting  for 
Capt.  Decatur's  attention.  In  a  moment  the  captain  noticed  the  two, 
and  said  cheerily,  — 

"  Well,  Jack,  what's  wanting  now  .' " 

Touching  his  hat,  the  lad  replied,  "  Commodore,  will  you  please  to 
have  my  name  put  down  on  the  muster-roll .' " 

"Why,  what  for,  my  lad.'" 

"So  that  I  can  draw  my  share  of  the  prize-money,  when  we  take 
that  Britisher,  sir." 

Amused  and  pleased  with  the  lad's  confidence  in  the  success  of  the 
"United  States"  in  the  coming  battle,  Decatur  gave  the  necessary  order ; 
and  Jack  went  back  to  his  post  with  a  jirouder  step,  for  he  was  now 
regularly  enrolled. 

The  two  ships  were  now  coming  within  range  of  each  other,  and  a 
slow,  long-distance  cannonade  was  begun,  with  but  little  effect ;  for  a  long 
ground-swell  was  on,  and  the  ships  were  rolling  in  a  manner  fatal  to  the 
aim  of  the  gunners.  After  half  an  hour  of  this  playing  at  long  bowls, 
the  Englishman's  mizzen  top-mast  was  shot  away ;  and  the  cannon-balls 
from  the  "States"  whizzed  through  the  rigging,  and  splashed  into  the 
water  about  the  "  Macedonian,"  in  a  way  that  proved  the  American  gun- 
ners had  the  range,  and  were  utilizing  it.  Capt.  Carden  soon  saw  that 
at  long  range  the  American  gunners  were  more  than  a  match  for  his 
men,  and  he  resolved  to  throw  prudence  to  the  winds ;  and,  disdaining 
all  manoeuvring,  bore  straight  down  on  the  American  ship  that  lay  almost 
stationary  on  the  water,  pouring  in  rapid  and  well-aimed  broadsides. 

Though  a  gallant  and  dashing  movement,  this  course  led  to  the  defeat 
of  the  English  ship.  The  fire  of  the  Americans  was  deadly  in  its  aim, 
and  marvellous  in  rapidity.  So  continuous  was  the  flashing  of  the  dis- 
charges from  the  broadside  ports,  that  the  sailors  on  the  "  Macedonian " 
thought  their  adversary  was  on  fire,  and  cheered  lustily.  But  the  next 
instant  their  exultation  was  turned  to  sorrow ;  for  a  well-directed  shot  cut 
away  the  mizzen-mast,  which  fell  alongside,  suspended  by  the  cordage. 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812, 


143 


"Huzza,  Jack!"  cried  the  captain  of  a  gun  on  the  "United  States." 
"We've  made  a  bris  of  her." 

"Ay,  ay,  my  lad,"  said  Decatur,  who  .stood  near  by;  "  now  aim  well 
at  the  main-mast,  and  she'll  be  a  sloop  soon." 

A  few  minutes  later,  the  captain  shouted  to  the  nearest  gunner, 
"Aim  at  the  yellow  streak.  Her  spars  and  rigging  are  going  fast  enough. 
She  must  have  a  little  more  hulling." 

This  order  was  immediately  passed  along  the  gun-deck,  until  every 
gunner  was  striving  his  utmost  to  plant  his  shot  in  the  hull  of  the 
enemy.  The  effect  was  terrible.  The  great  missiles  crashed  through 
the  v/ooden  sides  of  the  English  frigate,  and  swept  the  decks  clear  of 
men.  She  was  coming  down  on  the  American  bravely,  and  with  mani- 
fest intention  of  boarding;  but  so  skilfully  was  the  "United  States" 
manreuvred,  and  so  accurate  and  rapid  was  her  fire,  that  the  "  Macedo- 
nian "  was  unable  to  close,  and  was  fairly  cut  to  pieces,  while  still  more 
than  a  pistol-shot  distant.  The  "  United  States,"  in  the  mean  time,  was 
almost  unscathed.  The  aim  of  the  English  gunners  was  usually  too 
high,  and  such  shots  as  took  effect  were  mainly  in  the  rigging.  After 
pounding  away  at  the  "Macedonian"  until  the  chocks  of  the  forecastle 
guns  on  that  ship  were  cut  away,  her  boats  cut  to  pieces,  and  her  hull 
shattered  with  more  than  one  hundred  shot-holes,  the  American  ship 
drew  away  slightly.  The  British  thought  she  was  in  retreat,  and  cheered 
lustily,  but  were  soon  undeceived ;  for,  after  a  little  manoeuvring,  the 
"  United  States  "  ranged  up  under  her  adversary's  lee,  securing  a  raking 
position.  Before  a  broadside  could  be  fired,  the  British  hauled  down  their 
flag;  and  the  action  was  ended,  after  just  an  hour  and  a  half  of  fighting. 

The  slaughter  on  the  British  frigate  had  been  appalling.  From  the 
official  accounts,  we  glean  the  cold  reports  of  the  numbers  of  the  killed  and 
wounded ;  but  for  any  picture  of  the  scene  on  the  decks  of  the  defeated 
man-of-war,  we  must  turn  to  such  descriptions  as  have  been  left  by  eye- 
witnesses. Sailors  are  not  much  given  to  the  habit  of  jotting  down  the 
descriptions  of  the  many  stirring  scenes  in  which  they  play  parts  in 
their  adventurous  careers;  and  much  that  is  romantic,  much   that   is   pic- 


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144 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


turcsquc,  and  much  that  is  of  historic  value,  has  thus  been  lost  to  history. 
But  of  the  details  of  the  action  between  the  "Macedonian"  and  "United 
States,"  the  sailor-lad  already  quoted  has  left  an  account,  probably  as 
trustworthy  as  should  be  expected  of  a  witness  in  his  situation.  He  was 
stationed  at  one  of  the  guns  on  the  main-deck ;  and  it  was  his  duty,  as 
powder-boy,  to  run  to  the  magazine  for  powder  for  his  gun.  Before  the 
entrance  to  the  magazine  was  a  heavy  wooden  screen,  pierced  with  a 
hole  through  which  the  cartridges  were  passed  out  to  the  fleet-footed 
powder-monkeys,  as  they  rushed  up  for  more  powder.  Each  boy,  on 
getting  his  cartridge,  wrapped  it  in  his  jacket,  that  no  stray  spark  might 
touch  it,  and  dashed  off  at  full  speed  for  his  gun,  quickly  returning  for 
further  supplies. 

With  the  men  all  standing  pale  and  silent  at  the  guns,  the  "  Macedo- 
nian "  came  on  doggedly  towards  her  foe.  Three  guns  fired  from  the  lar- 
board side  of  the  gun-deck  opened  the  action ;  but  the  fire  was  quickly 
stopped  by  the  gruff  order  from  the  quarter-deck,  "Cease  firing:  you  are 
throwing  away  your  shot ! "  Then  came  the  roar  of  the  opening  volley 
from  the  American  frigate. 

"  A  strange  noise  such  as  I  had  never  heard  before  next  arrested  my 
attention,"  wrote  the  English  sailor-lad.  "  It  sounded  like  the  tearing  of 
sails  just  over  our  heads.  This  I  soon  ascertained  to  be  the  wind  of  the 
enemy's  shot.  The  firing,  after  a  few  minutes'  cessation,  recommenced. 
The  roaring  of  cannon  could  now  be  heard  from  all  parts  of  our  trem- 
bling ship  ;  and,  mingling  as  it  did  with  that  of  our  foes,  it  made  a  most 
hideous  noise.  By  and  by  I  heard  the  shot  strike  the  sides  of  our  ship. 
The  whole  scene  grew  indescribably  confused  and  horrible.  It  was  like 
some  awfully  tremendous  thunder-storm,  whose  deafening  roar  is  attended 
by  incessant  streaks  of  lightning,  carrying  death  in  every  flash,  and  strew- 
ing the  ground  with  the  victims  of  its  wrath  ;  only  in  our  case  the  scene 
was  rendered  more  horrible  than  that  by  the  presence  of  torrents  of  blood, 
which  dyed  our  decks.  Though  the  recital  may  be  painful,  yet,  as  it  will 
reveal  the  horrors  of  war,  and  show  at  what  a  fearful  price  the  victory  is 
won  or  lost,  I  will  present  the  reader  with  things  as  they  met  my  eye  during 


BLUK-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


145 


the  progress  of  this  dreadful  fight.  I  was  busily  supplying  my  gun  with 
powder,  when  I  saw  blood  suddenly  fly  from  the  arm  of  a  man  stationed  at 
our  gun.  I  saw  nothing  strike  him  :  the  effect  alone  was  visible  ;  and  in  an 
instant  the  third  lieutenant  tied  his  handkerchief  round  the  wounded  arm, 
and  sent  the  poor  fellow  below  to  the  surgeon. 

"  The  cries  of  the  wounded  now  rang  through  all  parts  of  the  ship.  These 
were  carried  to  the  cock-pit  as  fast  as  they  fell,  while  those  more  fortunate 
men  who  were  killed  outright  were  immediately  thrown  overboard.  As  I 
was  stationed  but  a  short  distance  from  the  main  hatchwav,  I  could  catch  a 
glance  at  all  who  were  carried  below.  A  glance  was  all  I  could  indulge  in  ; 
for  the  boys  belonging  to  the  guns  ne.xt  to  mine  were  wounded  in  the  early 
part  of  the  action,  and  I  had  to  spring  with  all  my  might  to  keep  three  or 
four  guns  supplied  with  cartridges.  I  saw  two  of  these  lads  fall  nearly 
together.  One  of  them  was  struck  in  the  leg  by  a  large  shot  ;  he  had  to 
suffer  amputation  above  the  wound.  The  other  had  a  grape  or  canister 
sent  through  his  ankle.  A  stout  Yorkshire  man  lifted  him  in  his  arms,  and 
hurried  with  him  to  the  cock-pit.  He  had  his  foot  cut  off,  and  was  thus 
made  lame  for  life.  Two  of  the  boys  stationed  on  the  quarter-deck  were 
killed.  They  were  both  Portuguese.  A  man  who  saw  one  killed  afterwards 
told  me  that  his  powder  caught  fire,  and  burnt  the  flesh  almost  off  his  face. 
In  this  pitiable  situation  the  agonized  boy  lifted  up  both  hands,  as  if 
imploring  relief,  when  a  passing  shot  instantly  cut  him  in  two." 

But  the  narrative  of  this  young  .sailor,  a  boy  in  years,  is  almost  too 
horrible  for  reproduction.  He  tells  of  men  struck  by  three  or  four  mis- 
siles at  once,  and  hacked  to  pieces ;  of  mangled  sailors,  mortally  wounded, 
but  still  living,  thrown  overboard  to  end  their  sufferings  ;  of  the  monoto- 
nous drip  of  the  blood  on  the  deck,  as  desperately  wounded  men  were 
carried  past.  The  brave  seaman  who  left  his  bed  of  sickness  for  the  post 
of  duty  had  his  head  carried  away  by  a  cannon-ball.  The  schoolmaster 
who  looked  after  the  education  of  the  midshipmen  was  killed.  Even  a 
poor  goat,  kept  by  the  officers  for  her  milk,  was  cut  down  by  a  cannon- 
ball,  and,  after  hobbling  piteously  about  the  deck,  was  mercifully  thrown 
overboard.     And  this  was  Sunday,  Christmas  Day  ! 


;i    -i 


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146 


BLUE-JACK KTS  OF    181 2. 


The  spot  amidships  where  our  sailor-lad  was  stationed  must  have  been 
the  hottest  station  in  the  whole  ship.  Many  years  later,  as  Herman 
Melville,  the  author  of  several  exciting  sea-tales,  was  walking  the  deck 
of  a  man-of-war  with  an  old  negro,  "Tawney,"  who  had  served  on  the 
"Macedonian,"  the  veteran  stopped  at  a  point  abreast  the  main-mast. 
"  This  part  of  the  ship,"  said  he,  "  we  called  the  slaughter-house,  on  board 
the  '  Macedonian.'  Here  the  men  fell,  five  and  six  at  a  time.  An  enemy 
always  directs  its  shot  here,  in  order  to  hurl  over  the  mast,  if  possible. 
The  beams  and  carlines  overhead  in  the  '  Macedonian '  slaughter-house 
were  spattered  with  blood  and  brains.  About  the  hatchways  it  looked 
like  a  butcher's  stall.  A  shot  entering  at  one  of  the  port-holes  dashed 
dead  two-thirds  of  a  gun's  crew,  I'he  captain  of  the  next  gun,  dropping 
his  lock-string,  which  he  had  just  pulled,  turned  over  the  heap  of  bodies, 
to  see  who  they  were  ;  when,  perceiving  an  old  messmate  who  had  sailed 
with  him  in  many  cruises,  he  burst  into  tears,  and  taking  the  corpse 
up  in  his  arms,  and  going  to  the  side  with  it,  held  it  over  the  water  a 
moment,  and  eying  it,  cried,  '  O  God  !  Tom '  —  '  Hang  your  prayers 
over  that  thing !  Overboard  with  it,  and  down  to  your  gun ! '  The  order 
was  obeyed,  and  the  heart-stricken  sailor  returned  to  his  post." 

Amid  such  scenes  of  terror,  the  British  tars  fought  on  doggedly,  cheer- 
ing loudly  as  they  worked  their  guns,  but  not  knowing  why  they  cheered  ; 
for  the  officers,  at  least,  could  see  how  surely  the  battle  was  going  against 
them.  When  the  "  United  States "  drew  away  to  repair  damages,  the 
British  officers  held  a  consultation  on  the  quarter-deck.  They  could  not 
but  see  that  their  position  was  hopeless ;  and,  knowing  all  further  resist- 
ance to  be  folly,  the  flag  was  hauled  down.  To  the  pride  of  the  officers, 
the  surrender  was  doubtless  a  severe  blow.  But  Sam  Leech  remarks 
pithily,  that  to  him  "  it  was  a  pleasing  sight ;  for  he  had  seen  fighting 
enough  for  one  Sabbath, — more,  indeed,  than  he  wished  to  see  again  on 
a  week-day." 

Decatur  at  once  hailed,  to  learn  the  name  of  his  prize,  and  then  sent 
off  a  boat  with  Lieut.  Allen  to  take  possession.  He  found  the  decks  of 
the   ship   in   a   fearful   state.     Many  of   the  crew  had   found   liquor,   and 


HLUK-JACKKTS  OF    1S12. 


147 


wore  clrinkinf(  heavily.  Others  were  throwin;^  the  dead  into  the  sea, 
carrying  the  wounded  below,  and  sprinklinj;  the  deck  with  hot  vinegar,  to 
remove  the  stains  and  odor  of  blood.  The  dead  numbered  forty-three,  and 
sixty-one  were  wounded.  An  eye-witness  of  the  terrible  spectacle  writes 
of  it :  "  Fragments  of  the  dead  were  distributed  in  every  direction,  the 
decks  covered  with  blood,  —  one  continued,  agonizing  yell  of  the  unhajjpy 
wounded.  A  scene  so  horrible  of  my  fellow-creatures,  I  assure  you,  de- 
prived me  very  much  of  the  pleasure  of  victory."  Yet,  with  all  this  terrific 
destruction  and  loss  of  life  on  the  "Macedonian,"  the  "United  States"  was 
but  little  injured  •  and  her  loss  amounted  to  but  seven  killed,  and  five 
wounded.  Indeed,  so  slight  was  the  damage  done  to  the  American  ship, 
that  an  hour's  active  work  by  her  sailors  put  her  in  trim  for  a  second  battle. 

While  Lieut.  Allen  was  examining  the  muster-rolls  of  the  "  Macedo- 
nian," a  sailor  pushed  his  way  toward  the  quarter-deck,  and  cried  out 
that  he  was  an  impressed  American,  and  that  he  had  seven  mates  aboard, 
all  pressed  into  the  British  service.  They  had  all  been  forced  to  serve 
against  their  country,  and  in  the  battle  three  had  been  killed.  Just  before 
the  battle  began,  they  had  begged  to  be  sent  below,  but  were  peremp- 
torily ordered  to  stand  by  their  guns,  or  expect  to  be  treated  as  muti- 
neers. Now  that  the  battle  was  over,  the  five  who  were  left  alive  begged  to 
be  taken  into  the  crew  of  the  "  United  States,"  which  was  accordingly  done. 

After  the  "  Macedonian  "  had  been  formally  taken  iwssession  of  by 
Lieut.  Allen,  the  British  ofificers  were  removed  to  the  American  ship. 
Some  of  them  were  inclined  to  be  very  surly  over  their  defeat,  and  by 
words  and  actions  showed  their  contempt  for  the  Americans,  whose  pris- 
oners they  were.  In  the  first  boat  which  went  from  the  prize  to  the 
victor  was  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  "  Macedonian."  As  he  clambered 
down  the  side  of  his  vessel,  he  noticed  that  his  baggage  had  not  been 
put  in  the  boat  which  was  to  bear  him  to  the  American  frigate.  Turning 
to  Lieut.  Allen,  he  said  surlily, — 

"  You  do  not  intend  to  send  me  away  without  my  baggage .' " 

"I  hope,"  responded  Allen  courteously,  "that  you  do  not  take  us  for 
privateersmen." 


1  m 


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I  I 


4 

m 

148 


lU.UIl-JACKKTS   OF    1812. 


il 


"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know  by  whom  I  have  been  taken,"  was  the  rude 
reply,  which  so  angered  Allen  that  he  peremptorily  ordered  the  fellow  to 
take  his  place  in  the  boat,  and  be  silent. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  demeanor  of  the  British  captives,  they 
met  with  nothing  but  the  most  considerate  treatment  from  the  American 
officers.  Capt.  Garden,  on  his  arrival  upon  the  deck  of  the  victorious 
frigate,  was  received  with  the  consideration  due  his  rank  and  the  brave 
defence  of  his  vessel.  He  was  conducted  at  once  to  Decatur's  cabin,  on 
entering  which  he  took  off  his  sword,  and  mutely  held  it  out  for  Decatur's 
acceptance.  Decatur  courteously  refused  to  accept  it,  saying,  "  Sir,  I  cannot 
take  the  sword  of  a  man  who  has  defended  his  ship  so  bravely ;  but  I 
will  take  your  hand."  As  long  as  Garden  and  his  officers  remained  on 
the  ship,  they  were  treated  with  the  greatest  consideration,  and  were 
allowed  to  retain  all  their  personal  property.  ICvery  attempt  was  made 
to  take  away  from  them  the  bitter  remembrance  of  their  defeat.  The 
innate  nobility  of  Decatur's  nature  is  well  shown  in  a  letter  written  to  his 
wife  a  few  days  after  the  action.  "  One-half  of  the  satisfaction,"  he  says, 
"  arising  from  this  victory  is  destroyed  in  seeing  the  mortification  of  poor 
Garden,  who  deserved  success  as  much  as  we  did  who  had  the  good  fortune 
to  obtain  it."  When  Garden  left  the  ship,  he  thanked  Decatur  for  his  con- 
sideration, and  expressed  a  desire  to  do  likewise  by  the  Americans,  should 
he  ever  be  able  to  turn  the  tables. 

Amid  the  heat  of  battle  and  the  excitement  of  success,  Decatur  did  not 
forget  little  Jack  Greamer,  the  lately  enrolled  ship's  boy.  Shortly  after  the 
close  of  the  conflict,  he  sent  for  Jack  to  come  to  his  cabin.  Soon  a  much 
abashed  small  boy  stood  before  the  captain. 

"  Well,  Jack,"  said  the  great  man,  "  we  did  take  her,  after  all." 

"  Yes,  your  Honor,"  responded  Jack.  "  I  knew  we  would,  before  we  gave 
her  the  first  broadside." 

"And  your  share  of  the  prize-money,"  continued  Decatur,  "may  am 
to  two  hundred  dollars,  if  we  get   her  safe  into  port.     Now,  what  are  ^.  >u 
going  to  do  with  so  much  money  .'  " 

Jack's  eyes  had  lighted  up  at  the  thought  of  such  great  wealth. 


BLUE-J-^<-"'^l"l"^  (>!'    '•'^'2- 


149 


"  Please,  sir,"  he  cried,  "  I'll  send  half  of  it  to  my  mother ;  and  the 
rest  will  get  me  a  bit  of  schooling." 

"Well  said,  Jack,"  said  Decatur  warmly;  and  the  interview  closed  for 
the  time.  But  the  captain's  interest  in  the  boy  was  aroused,  and  for 
years  he  showed  an  almost  fatherly  regard  for  the  lad.  Jack  had  his 
"  bit  of  schooling,"  then  received  a  midshipman's  warrant,  and  for  years 
served  with  Decatur,  giving  promise  of  becoming  an  able  officer.  At 
last,  however,  his  career  was  ended  by  the  accidental  upsetting  of  a  boat 
when  on  a  pleasure  excursion  in  the  Mediterranean. 

After  putting  in  for  a  short  time  at  New  London,  the  two  ships, 
captor  and  captive,  proceeded  down  the  Sound  to  New  York.  Here  they 
arrived  on  the  1st  of  January,  1813;  and  the  news-writers  of  the  day 
straightway  hailed  the  "Macedonian"  as  "a  New  Year's  gift,  with  the 
compliments  of  old  Neptune."  However,  the  news  of  the  victory  had 
spread  throughout  the  land  before  the  ships  came  jp  to  New  York  ;  for 
Decatur  had  sent  out  a  courier  from  New  London  to  bear  the  tidings  to 
Washington.  A  curious  coincidence  made  the  delivery  of  the  despatch  as 
impressive  as  a  studied  dramatic  scene. 

It  so  happened  that  the  people  of  Washington  had  chosen  the  night 
of  Dec.  28  for  a  grand  ball,  to  be  tendered  to  the  officers  of  the  navy, 
and  particularly  to  Capt.  Stewart  of  the  "Constellation."  A  brilliant 
company  was  gathered,  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  The  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  and  other  cabinet  officers,  lent  their  presence  to  the  festivities. 
Capt.  Hull  of  the  victorious  "  Constitution "  was  present ;  and,  to  make 
the  affair  even  more  of  a  triumph,  the  captured  colors  of  the  "  Alert " 
and  the  "  Guerriere  "  were  draped  on  the  wall  of  the  hall.  Near  midnight, 
the  revelry  was  at  its  height.  The  brilliant  toilets  of  the  ladies ;  the 
men,  gorgeous  in  the  uniforms  of  the  army,  navy,  or  diplomatic  corps ; 
the  light  of  a  thousand  wax-candles  flashing  from  a  myriad  of  sconces,  — 
made  the  scene  one  of  the  utmost  splendor.  All  at  once,  in  the  midst 
of  the  stately  measures  of  the  old-fashioned  minuet,  a  murmur  rose  near 
the  entrance  to  the  hall,  and  spread  until  every  one  was  whispering,  that 
news  had  come  of  a  great  naval  battle,  a  victory.     Word  was  brought  to 


■ ' 

1 

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!;      : 

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i 

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150 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


the  Secretary  of  the  Navy.  He  directed  that  the  bearer  of  the  despatches 
should  be  at  once  admitted ;  and,  amid  cheers  and  clapping  of  hands, 
Lieut.  Hamilton  entered  the  hall,  and  delivered  his  despatches  to  hi.s 
father,  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy.  The  tenor  of  the  despatch  was  soon 
known  to  all ;  and  Lieut.  Hamilton  turned  from  the  greetings  of  his  mother 
and  sisters,  who  were  present,  to  receive  the  congratulations  of  his  brother- 
officers.  I  le  had  brought  the  colors  of  the  captured  ship  with  him  to  the 
city;  and  Capts.  .Stewart  and  Hull  immediately  went  in  seaixh  of  them, 
and  .soon  returned,  bearing  the  flag  between  them.  The  two  veteran 
sailors  marched  the  length  of  the  hall,  amid  the  plaudits  of  the  g^.y  .om- 
pany,  and  laid  the  colors  before  Mrs.  Madison, — the  Dolly  Madison  who 
is  still  remembered  as  the  most  popular  of  the  "ladies  of  the  White 
House."  Then  the  company  proceeded  to  the  banquet-hall,  where,  to  the 
list  of  toasts  already  prepared,  was  added,  "The  health  of  Commodore 
Decatur  and  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  'United  States.'" 

Two  weeks  later,  Capt.  Decatur  and  his  officers  and  the  crew  of  the 
"United  States"  were  sumptuously  entertained  by  the  citizens  of  New 
York.  The  officers  were  tendered  a  banquet  in  the  great  assembly-room 
of  the  City  Hotel,  which  was  decked  with  laurel  and  ship's  spars  and 
sails.  The  chief  table  at  the  head  of  the  room,  at  which  sat  Mayor  De 
Witt  Clinton  and  Capts.  Hull  and  Decatur,  was  a  marvel  of  decoration. 
Its  centre  was  taken  up  by  a  sheet  of  water  with  grassy  banks,  bearing 
on  its  placid  surface  a  miniature  frigate  floating  at  her  moorings.  ICach 
of  the  smaller  tables  bore  a  small  frigate  on  a  pedestal  in  the  centre  of 
the  board.  On  the  wall  at  the  end  of  the  room  hung  a  heavy  sail,  on 
which  was  printed  the  motto,  — 


OUR  CHILDREN   ARE  THE   PROPERTY   OF  THEIR   COUNTRY." 


After  the  dinner  was  ended  and  the  toasts  were  begun,  the  health  of 
th<;  navy  was  proposed.  At  the  word,  the  great  sail  began  to  ascend, 
and,  being  drawn  to  the  ceiling,  disclosed  an  illuminated  transparent 
painting,  showing  vividly  the  scenes   of  the  three   great   actions  won   by 


CLur:-jA(:KF;rs  ok  i.si^. 


isi 


the  "Constitution,"  tlic  "United    States,"  and   the   "Wasp."     The  whole 
company  rose  and  cheered,  until  the  walls  of  the  hall  fairly  run^^ 

Three  days  later,  the  jackies  from  the  forecastle  of  the  "  United  States  " 
were  entertained.  They  were  landed  at  the  Jiattery,  and  marched  in 
procession  to  the  hotel,  headed  by  a  brass  band  which  had  been  captured 
with  the  "  Macedonian."  Four  hundred  of  the  fine  fellows  were  in  the 
line,  clad  in  the  dress  uniform  of  the  navy  of  that  time.  Glazed  canvas 
hats  with  stiff  rims,  decked  with  streamers  of  ribbon  ;  blue  jackets  but- 
toned loosely  over  red  waistcoats  ;  and  blue  trousers  with  bell-buttons,  — 
made  up  the  toj^^gery  of  the  tar  of  1812.  As  they  marched,  two  by  two, 
through  the  narrow  streets  that  led  to  the  City  Hotel,  the  populace 
assembled  on  the  sidewalks  and  in  the  windows  along  the  route,  greeting 
the  jackies  with  cheers.  The  rear  was  brought  up  by  the  usual  band  of 
street-urchins,  each  of  whom  that  day  was  firm  in  his  determination  to 
be  a  sailor. 

After  the  banquet  at  the  hotel,  the  sailors  were  marched  to  the  theatre, 
where  the  pit  had  been  set  aside  for  them.  The  orchestra  opened  with 
"Yankee  Doodle;"  but  the  first  bar  had  hardly  been  played,  when  the 
cheers  of  the  blue-jackc';s  fairly  drowned  the  music,  and  the  musicians 
were  fain  to  stop.  The  programme  had  been  arrangeil  with  special  regard 
to  the  seafaring  audience.  Little  children  bounded  upon  the  stage,  bearing 
huge  letters  in  their  hands,  aiul,  after  lightly  whirling  through  the  mazes 
of  the  dance,  grouped  themselves  so  that  the  letters  formed  the  words,  — 


.'  .'('■ 


HULL.         JONES, 


DECATUR. 


Then  came  more  cheers  from  the  pit ;  and  more  than  one  glazed  hat 
soared  over  the  heads  of  the  audience,  and  fell  on  the  stage,  —  a  purely 
nautical  substitute  for  a  bouquet.  Late  at  night,  the  sailors  returned  to 
their  ship,  elated  with  an  ovation  the  like  of  which  has  never  since  been 
tendered  to  the  humble  heroes  of  the  fj)recastle  or  the  ranks. 


!         •': 


— *-rj?"5ic-sr3^a— 


i 


I 


J  '- 


CHAITKR   VI. 


OMMAXI)    OK   THE  "  O  INS  lITrTIoS."  -  Tlir.    DI- 
A."- CLOSE   OK   THE  VEAKS    UUSTILITIES   ON 


S  Hull  and  Decatur  sat  in  the  K'ly'y  docoratod  banquet-hall  at 
I'^^yr  Now  York,  and,  amid  the  plaudits  ((f  the  brilliant  assembly, 
drank  bumpers  to  the  success  of  the  navy,  they  litttle  thoui,dit 
that  thousands  of  miles  away  the  j^uns  of  an  American  frii^ate 
were  thunderin>;,  and  the  stout-hearted  blue-jackets  layinj;  down  their 
lives  for  the  honor  and  Ljlory  of  the  United  States.  Hut  so  it  was.  The 
openinjj;  year  of  the  war  was  not  destined  to  close  without  yet  a  fourth 
naval  victory  for  the  Americans ;  and,  at  the  very  moment  when  they 
were  so  joyfully  celebratinji  the  f;lories  already  won,  Capt.  Bainbridj^e  in 
the  good  ship  "Constitution"  was  valiantly  giving  battle  to  a  British 
frigate  far  south  of  the  ecpiator. 

Before  considering  the  details  of  this  last  action  of  the  year  1812,  let 
lis  recount   briefly  the  movements  of  some  American  vessels  in   coniniis- 

'5^ 


BLUE-J.\CKF/rs  OF    1812. 


153 


sion  at  this  time.  After  sending  the  "Guerrierc"  to  the  hottoni  of  the 
sea,  and  bringing  her  officers  and  crew  in  triumph  into  lioston,  Capt. 
Hull  had  voluntarily  relinquished  tlie  command  of  the  "Constitution,"  in 
order  that  some  other  officer  might  win  laurels  with  the  noble  frigate. 
In  his  place  was  appointed  Capt.  Hainhridge,  who  had  served  in  the 
wars  with  France  and  Tripoli.  After  a  short  time  spent  in  refitting, 
liainbridge  .sailed  from  Hoston,  accompanied  by  the  "  Hornet,"  eighteen 
guns.  The  "  Ivsse.v,"  thirty-two,  Capt.  Porter,  was  lying  in  the  Delaware 
at  the  time  Bainbridgc  left  lioston,  and  her  captain  was  ordered  to  cruise 
in  the  track  of  liritish  VVcst-Indiamen.  After  spending  some  lime  in 
this  service,  he  was  to  turn  southward  and  visit  several  South  American 
ports,  with  a  view  to  joining  Bainbridgc.  Should  he  fail  to  find  the 
"  Constitution,"  he  was  free  to  act  at  his  own  discretion.  This  permis- 
sion gave  Porter  an  opportunity  to  make  a  cruise  seldom  eciualled  in 
naval  annals,  and  which  will  form  the  subject  of  a  subsequent  chapter. 

The  "Constitution"  antl  "Hornet"  left  Hoston  on  the  26th  of  Oitoijcr, 
and  shaped  their  course  at  once  for  the  south.  They  put  in  at  two  or 
three  ports  which  had  been  named  to  Capt.  Porter  as  meeting-places, 
but,  finding  no  trace  of  the  "  l'2sse.\,"  continued  their  cruise.  At  Port 
Praya  in  the  island  of  St.  Jago,  and  at  Fernando  Noronha,  tiie  two 
ships  assumed  the  character  of  British  men-of-war.  Officers  from  whose 
uniform  every  trace  of  the  American  eagle  had  been  carefully  removed 
went  ashore,  and,  after  paying  formal  visits  to  the  governors  of  the  two 
islands,  requt.  ♦^ed  permission  to  leave  letters  for  .Sir  James  Veo  of  His 
Majesty's  .service.  Though  directed  to  this  prominent  British  naval  officer, 
the  letters  were  intendeil  for  ("apt.  Porter,  and  contained  direitions  for 
his  cruise,  written  in  sympathetic  ink.  After  the  letters  were  deposited, 
the  two  vessels  left  ;  and  we  may  be  sure  that  the  British  colors  came 
down  from  the  masthead  as  soon  as  the  ships  were  out  of  sight. 

The  ne.xt  point  at  which  the  American  ships  stopped  was  San  Sal- 
vador, on  the  coast  of  Brazil.  Here  Bainbridgc  lay-to  outside  the  harbor, 
and  sent  in  Capt.  Lawrence  with  the  "Hornet"  to  communicate  with 
the  American  consul.     Lawrence  returned  greatly  e.xcited.     In  the  harbor 


I     I 


I  r 


'1 


- 


i?    f- 


!   '■ 


154 


blue-j.\lki:ts  of  181 2. 


he  had  found  the  British  sloop-of-war  "  Hoiinc  Citoyennc,"  of  twenty 
fjuns,  which  was  on  the  point  of  sailing  for  ICngland.  A  more  evenly 
matched  adversary  for  the  "Hornet"  could  not  have  been  found,  and 
the  Yankee  sailors  longed  for  an  engagement.  A  formal  challenge  was 
sent,  through  the  American  consul,  to  the  captain  of  the  British  ship, 
rec|uesting  him  to  come  out  and  try  conclusions  with  the  "Hornet." 
Every  assurance   was   offered    that    the    "  Constitution "   would   remain    in 


I'-.CrCV 


fill'' '     _- 


i^'  ■  J';^;;^ 


ASSINUNt;    ro    |!K    IlKlllSIl    MK\  ii|-\V.\K. 


the  nfTing,  and  take  no  part  in  the  battle,  which  was  to  test  the  strength 
of  the  two  eiju.dly  matched  ships  only.  Some  days  later,  this  challenge 
was  reduced  to  writing,  and  sent  to  the  l-jiglish  captain.  Hut  that 
officer  declined  the  challenge,  giving  as  his  reason  the  fact  that  he  had 
in  his  ship  over  half  a  million  pounds  in  specie,  which  it  was  his  duty 
to  con\ey  to  ICngland.  l-'or  him  to  give  battle  to  the  "  Hornet,"  would 
therefore  be  unwise,  as  he  would  put  in  jeopardy  this  money  which  it 
was  his  duty  to  guard.  This  response  was  conclusive,  and  the  ICnglish- 
man  must  be  admitted  to  have   acted  wisely  ;  but  the   knowledge   of   the 


liLUK-JACKKTS   OF    1812. 


155 


valuable  carj;!)  of  the  "  Bonne  Citoycnne  "  only  increased  the  desire  of 
the  Americans  to  capture  her.  The  "Hornet"  accor(linj,dy  remained 
outside  the  harbor,  as  a  blockader,  while  the  "Constitution"  continued 
her  cruise  alone. 

She  had  not  far  to  ^^o  in  order  to  meet  an  enemy  well  worthy  of  her 
metal.  Three  days  after  partinj,^  with  the  "  Hornet,"  two  sail  were  made, 
well  in  shore.  One  of  the  vessels  so  sighted  seemed  to  make  for  the 
land,  as  thou;;h  an.xious  to  avoid  meetinj;  the  American  ship;  while  the 
other  came  about,  and  made  her  course  boldly  toward  the  "Constitution." 

It  was  about  nine  o'clock  on  a  bri{j;ht  December  morning  that  the 
"Constitution"  encountered  the  strange  vessel,  which  bore  down  upon  her. 
A  light  breeze,  of  sufficient  force  to  enable  the  vessels  to  man(Luvre,  was 
blowing  ;  but  the  surface  of  the  ocean  was  as  placid  as  a  lake  in  summer. 
The  build  of  the  stranger  left  no  doubt  of  her  warlike  character,  ami  tlie 
bold  manner  in  which  she  sought  a  meeting  with  the  American  ship  con- 
vinced liainbridge  that  he  had  fallen  in  with  an  enemy.  Tiie  "Constitu- 
tion" did  not  for  a  time  meet  the  enemy's  advances  in  kind.  Hack  of 
the  advancing  frigate  could  be  seen  the  low.  dark  coast-line  of  iira/il, 
into  whose  neutral  waters  the  ICnglishman  could  retreat,  and  tiuis  gain 
protection,  if  the  conflict  seemed  to  go  against  him.  Hainbridge  deter- 
mined that  the  coming  battle  should  be  fought  beyond  the  possibilitv  of 
escape  for  the  vanquisheil,  and  therefore  drew  away  gradually  as  tiie 
stranger  came  on.  My  noon  the  two  ships  were  near  enough  together 
for  flags  to  be  visible,  when  Hainbridge  set  his  colors,  and  displayed  pri- 
vate signals.  The  enemy  did  the  same  ;  and,  though  his  signals  were 
unintelligible,  the  Hag  that  fluttered  at  the  masthead  was  clearly  the  Hag 
of  (ireat  liritain.  Hainbridge  continued  his  retreat  for  an  hour  longer, 
then,  being  far  enough  from  land,  took  in  his  main-sail  and  royals,  and 
tacked  toward  tl      Englishman. 

Hy  this  time  the  strange  sail  w'lich  had  been  sighted  in  company  with 
the  English  ship  had  di.sappeared.  The  low-lying  coast  of  Hrazil  had  sunk 
below  the  horiz(,n.  From  the  deck  of  the  "Constitution,"  nothing  could  be 
seen  but  the  vast  circle  of  placid  cicean,  and  the  ICnglish  frigate  about  a  mile 


i  ^ 


.  if; 

1' 

li 

i 


A 


r*' 


:  i 


t  li 


156 


iiLUi:-jACKi:rs  of  181 2. 


R  n 


to  the  windward,  bearing  down  to  open  the  fight.  The  drums  beat,  and  the 
crew  went  quietly  and  in  perfect  order  to  their  quarters.  They  were  no 
longer  the  raw,  untrained  crew  that  had  joined  the  ship  some  months  before. 
They  were  veterans,  with  the  glorious  victory  over  the  "  Guerriere  "  fresh  in 
tiieir  reniembrnnc;:,  and  now  animated  with  a  desire  to  add  to  their  trophies 
the  strange  vessel  then  in  sight. 

As  the  enemy,  which  proved  to  be  the  "Java,"  thirty-eight,  Capt.  Lam- 
bert, came  nearer,  she  hauled  down  her  colors,  leaving  only  a  jack  Hying.  A 
jack  is  a  small  flag  hoisted  at  the  bowsprit  cap.  The  Union  jack  of  the 
United  States  navy  is  a  blue  flag  dotted  with  stars,  but  without  the  stripes 
of  the  nationrd  flag ;  the  jack  of  Great  Hritain  has  the  scarlet  cross  of  St. 
George  on  a  blue  field.  The  l-.nglishman's  action  in  hauling  down  his 
ensigns  puzzled  Hainbridge,  who  sent  a  shot  as  an  order  that  they  be  raised 
again.  The  response  to  this  reminder  came  in  the  form  of  a  heavy  broad- 
siile,  and  the  action  opened. 

In  the  light  wind  that  was  blowing,  the  enemy  proved  the  better  sailer, 
and  soon  forged  ahead.  His  object  was  to  cross  the  bows  of  the  Ameri- 
can ship,  anil  get  in  a  raking  broadside,  —  the  end  and  aim  of  most  of  the 
naval  mancLUivring  in  those  days  of  wooden  ships  and  heavy  batteries. 
Hy  skilful  seamanship,  Hainbridge  warded  off  the  danger  ;  and  the  fight 
continued  broadside  to  broadside.  The  firing  on  both  sides  was  rapid 
and  well  directed.  After  half  an  hour  of  fighting,  the  "  Con.stitution " 
was  seriously  crippled  by  a  round  shot,  which  carried  away  her  wheel, 
and  wounded  liain))ridge  by  driving  a  small  copper  bolt  deep  into  his 
thigh.  I''or  a  moment  it  seemed  as  though  the  American  ship  was  lost. 
Having  no  control  over  the  rudder,  her  head  fell  off,  her  sails  flapped 
idly  against  the  spars,  and  the  enemy  was  fast  coming  into  an  advantageous 
position.  Hut,  though  wounded,  the  indomitable  Yankee  captain  was  equal 
to  the  occasion.  Tackle  was  rigged  upon  the  rudder-post  between  decks, 
and  a  crew  of  jackies  detailed  to  work  the  improvised  helm.  The  helms- 
men were  far  out  of  earshot  of  the  (piarter-deck :  so  a  line  of  midshipmen 
was  formed  from  the  quarter-deck  to  the  spot  where  the  sailors  tugged  at 
tlu'  steering-lines. 


!  >  I 


blui:-j.u;kkts  of  1812. 


O/ 


1  lard-u-port ! "    IJainbridgc    would    shout    from    his    station    on    the 


quarter-deck. 


MAklNKS    I'U  KIM;   111  I     Tin:    I,N1.MV. 


"  Mard-a-pnrt !  Hard-a-port !  "  came  the  quick  resi)onses,  as  the  mid- 
shipmen passed  the  word  alonj;.  And  so  the  ship  was  steered  ;  and,  not- 
withstandinj;  the  loss  of  her  wheel,  fairly  out-manteuvred    her  antaj^^jnist. 


(    , 


If 


I  ,        '* 


]-\i 


In, 


:l 


m 


m 


i5« 


r.LUr-JACKKTS  OK    1812. 


TIk-  first  raking  hnnulsitlc  was  delivered  by  tlie  "Constitution,"  and  did 
terrible  execution  alonj^  the  j^un-deck  of  the  ICnj;lish  ship.  The  two  shii)s 
then  ran  before  the  wind,  e.\chanj;inj;  broadsides  at  a  distance  of  half 
pistol-shot.  At  this  j;ame  the  American  was  clearly  winning  :  so  the 
J'jiglishnian  determined  to  close  and  board,  in  the  dashin<;,  fearless  way 
that  had  made  the  tars  of  (jreat  Britain  the  terror  of  ail  maritime 
peoples.  The  frit^ate  bore  down  on  the  "Constitution,"  and  struck  her 
on  the  cjuarter ;  the  long  jib-boom  tearing  its  way  through  the  rigging 
of  the  American  ship.  lUit,  while  this  movement  was  being  executed, 
the  American  gunners  had  not  been  idle  ;  and  the  results  (tf  their  labors 
were  very  evident,  in  the  rigging  of  the  "Java."  Her  jib-boom  and  bow- 
sprit were  so  shattered  by  shot,  that  they  were  on  the  point  of  giving  way; 
and,  as  the  ships  met,  the  mizzen-mast  fell,  crashing  through  forecastle 
and  main-deck,  crushing  officer.',  and  sailors  beneath  it  in  the  fall,  and 
hurling  the  topmen  into  the  ocean  to  drown.  The  "Constitution" 
shot  ahead,  but  soon  wore  and  lay  yard-arm  to  yard-arm  with  her  foe. 
I'or  .some  minutes  the  battle  raged  with  desperation.  A  dense  suli)hu- 
rous  smoke  hung  about  tlie  hulls  of  the  two  ships,  making  any  extended 
vi.sion  impossible.  Once  in  a  while  a  fresher  puff  of  wind,  or  a  change 
in  the  position  of  the  ships,  would  give  the  jackies  a  glimpse  of  their 
enemy,  and  show  fierce  faces  glaring  from  the  open  ports,  as  the  great 
guns  were  drawn  in  for  loading.  Then  the  gray  pall  of  smoke  fell,  and 
nothing  was  to  be  seen  but  the  carnage  near  at  hand.  The  officers  on 
the  (|uarter-deck  could  better  judge  of  the  progress  of  the  fray ;  and, 
the  marines  stationed  there  took  advantage  of  every  clear  moment  to 
pick   off   some    enemy    with    a    shot    from   one   of    their    muskets.       High 


up    ni 


the  t 


ons    o 


f    thi 


Constitution"    were    two   small    howitzers,    with 


which  crews  of  tojimen,  under  the  command  of  midshipmen,  made  lively 
play  with  grape  and  canister  ui)on  the  crowded  decks  of  the  enemy. 
I"'rom  the  cavernous  submarine  depths  of  the  cock-pit  an<l  magazine,  to 
the  tops  of  each  ship,  not  an  idler  was  to  be  found.  Chaplains,  surgeons, 
clerks,  cooks,  and  waiters  —  all  were  working  or  fighting  fur  the  honor 
of  the  flag  under  which  they  served. 


BLUK-jACKKIS   OF    iSij. 


'59 


i^'K'i 


IN   nil,  1  KOS^   IKIKS. 


Again  the  Hritish  (IctcnniiK-d  to  Ixtaid  ;  and  tlir  (jiiick,  sharp  notes  of 
the  lni<;le  callinj^  up  the  hoarders  gave  warninj;"  of  their  intentions.  Tlie 
men  in  the  tops  of  the  Ameriean    frigate,  h)oking  down  from  their  lofty 


li  f. 


n  n 


hii 


1 60 


BLUE-JACK i:rs   OK    1S12. 


station,  could  sec  the  crowd  of  boarders  and  marines  rjathcred  on  the  fore- 
castle and  in  the  j^anj^-ways,  and  could  hear  the  shrill  in;tes  of  the  boat- 
swain's whistle  cheerinj;  them  on.  At  that  moment,  however,  the  Ameri- 
can fire  raked  the  enemy  with  fearful  effect,  and  the  volleys  of  musketry 
from  the  marines  and  topmen  made  such  havoc  among  the  crowded 
boarders  that  the  attempt  was  abandoned.  The  deadly  fire  of  the 
Americans  was  not  slackened.  Capt.  Lambert  was  struck  down,  mortally 
wounded;  and  the  command  fell  upon  Lieut.  Chads,  who,  though  himself 
badly  wounded,  continued  the  fight  with  true  liritish  courage.  Over  the 
side  of  the  "Java"  hung  the  wreck  of  her  top-hamper,  which  every  broad- 
side set  on  fire.  Yet  the  liritish  tars  fought  on,  che<>ring  lustily,  and 
not  once  thinking  of  surrender,  though  they  saw  their  fore-mast  gone, 
their  mizzcn-mast  shivered,  even  the  last  flag  shot  away,  and  the  last 
gun  silenced. 

When  affairs  had  reached  this  stage,  the  "Constitution,"  seeing  no 
Hag  flying  on  the  enemy,  hauled  away,  and  set  about  repairing  her  own 
damages.  While  thus  engaged,  the  main-mast  of  the  "Java"  was  seen 
to  go  by  the  board,  and  the  ship  lay  a  hopeless  wreck  upon  the  water. 
After  making  some  slight  repairs,  Hainbridge  returned  to  take  possession 
of  his  prize,  but,  to  his  surjirise,  found  a  jack  still  floating  over  the  help- 
less hulk.  It  was  merely  a  bit  of  bravado,  however;  for,  as  the  "Consti- 
tution "  ranged  up  alongside,  the  jack  was  hauled  down. 

The  "Java"  proved  to  be  a  rich  prize.  She  was  one  of  the  best  of 
the  ICnglish  frigates,  and  had  just  been  especially  fitted  up  for  the 
accommoflation  of  the  governor-general  of  Bombay  and  his  staff,  all  of 
whom  were  then  on  board.  This  added  to  the  regular  number  of  officers 
and  crew  more  than  one  hundred  prisoners,  mostly  of  high  rank  in 
liritish  military  and  social   circles. 

The  boarding  officer  founil  the  ship  so  badly  cut  up  that  to  save  her 
was  impossible.  Her  loss  in  men,  including  her  captain  Henry  Lambert, 
and  five  midshipmen,  was  forty-eight,  together  with  one  hundred  and 
five  wounded,  among  whom  were  many  officers.  The  "  Constitution  "  had 
suffered  much  less  severely,  having  but  twelve  killed  and  twenty  wounded. 


HLL'K-JACKKTS  OF    1S12. 


161 


The  ship  herself  was  but  little  cl;miaj;ecl  ;  her  chief  injury  beiiiij  the  loss 
of  her  wheel,  which  was  immediately  replaced  by  that  of  the  "Java." 

Capt.  Hainbriilf^e  now  found  himself  a  ^reat  distance  from  home,  with 
a  disabled  ship  filled  with  prisoners,  many  of  whom  were  wounded. 
Even  had  the  wreck  of  the  "Java"  been  less  complete,  it  would  have 
been  hazardous  to  attempt  to  take  her  back  to  the  United  States  throu^'h 
the  West  India  waters  that  swarmed  with  Hritish  vessels.  \o  course 
was  open  save  to  take  the  prisoners  aboard  the  "Constitution,"  and  set 
the  torch  to  the  disabled  hulk. 

To  do  this  was  a  work  of  no  little  difficulty.  The  storm  of  lead  anil 
iron  that  had  swept  across  the  decks  of  the  British  fri<;ate  had  left 
intact  not  one  of  the  boats  that  hung  from  the  davits.  The  "Constitu- 
tion "  had  fared  better ;  but,  even  with  her.  the  case  was  desperate,  for 
the  Hritish  cannonade  had  left  her  but  two  serviceable  boats.  To  trans- 
fer from  the  sinkinj,^  ship  to  the  victorious  frigate  nearly  five  hundred 
men,  over  a  hundred  of  whom  were  wounded,  was  a  serious  task  when 
the  means  of  transfer  were  thus  limited. 

Three  days  the  "Constitution  '  lay  by  her  defeated  enemy,  and  hour 
after  hour  the  boats  plied  between  the  two  ships.  The  first  to  be 
moved  were  the  wounded.  Tackle  was  riggeil  ovi  i  the  side  of  the 
"Java;"  and  the  mangled  suiferers,  securely  lashed  ii\  their  hammock.s, 
were  gently  lowered  into  the  waiting  boat,  and  soon  found  themselves  in 
the  sick-bay  of  the  American  shi]),  where  they  received  the  gentlest 
treatment  from  those  who  a  few  hours  before  sought  only  to  slay  them. 
The  transfer  of  the  wounded  once  accomplished,  the  work  proceeded  with 
great  ra])idity  :  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day  the  "Constitution" 
was  fdled  with  |)risoners ;  and  the  "Java,"  a  deserted,  shattereil  hulk, 
was  ready  for  the  last  scene  in  the  ilrama  of  her  career. 

The  last  boat  left  the  desolate  wreck,  and,  reaching  the  "Constitu- 
tion," was  hauled  up  to  the  davits.  The  side  of  the  American  frigate 
next  to  the  abandoned  ship  was  crowded  with  men,  who  looked  eagerly 
across  the  water.  Through  the  open  jjort-holes  of  the  "Java,"  a  flick- 
ering  gleam   could    be    seen,    playing   fitfully   upon    the   decks    and    gun- 


,    1 


I       i 


u 


i 


•!9 


llil 


Iff  \  I 


'If  s 

In  H* 

1 

JHflA 

1^ 

t62 


iii,i  i;-jA(Ki;is  OK  isij. 


caniaj^cs.  'I'hc  li;;ht  j^ivw  hiij^htL-r,  and  sharp-tonj^ucd  fiamus  licked  llie 
outside  of  the  iiiill,  and  sol  the  taii<;led  cordage  in  a  l)lazc.  With  this 
the  whole  ship  seemed  to  hurst  into  tire,  and  lay  tossinj;,  a  huj^c  ball  of 
flame,  on  the  risin;;  sea.  When  the  fire  was  ra^Mii^  most  fiercely,  there 
eaiiu'  a  terrific  explosion,  and  the  <;reat  hull  was  lifted  bodily  from  the 
water,  fallin;;  back  shattered  into  countless  bits,  (iims,  anchors,  ;ind  iron- 
work dra^^^ed  the  j^reater  part  of  the  wreckage  to  the  bottom  ;  and  when 
the  "Constitution,"  with  all  sail  set,  left  the  spot,  the  captive  I'Ji.i,dish- 
men,  looking;  sadly  back,  could  see  only  a  patch  of  charred  wood-work 
and  cordaj;e  lloatin;^  upon  the  ocean  to  mark  the  burial-place  of  the 
sturdy  fri,i;ale   "Java." 

'I'he  "Constitution"  made  sail  for  San  Salvador,  where  the  prisoners 
were  landed  ;  first  ^ivini;  their  paroles  not  to  serve  against  the  "  United 
States"  until  rei^ularly  exchanged.  Hainbridgc  then  took  his  ship  to 
liostnii,  where  she  arrived  in    I'ebruary,    1813. 

The  substitution  of  the  wheel  of  the  "Java"  for  that  of  the  "Con- 
stitution," shot  away  in  battle,  has  been  alluded  to.  In  his  bio^^raphy  of 
(apt.  Hainbrid|;e,  I'enimore  C"ooper  relates  a  story  o{  interest  renardini; 
this  trophy.  It  was  a  year  or  two  after  peace  was  made  with  l-n,i,dand, 
ill  1S15,  that  a  Uritish  naval  officer  visited  the  "Constitution,"  then 
Iviii^  at  the  Moston  navy-yard.  The  frigate  had  been  newly  fitted  out  for 
a  cruise  to  the  Meiliterranean  ;  and  an  American  officer,  with  some  pride, 
showed  the  Ijinlishman  over  the  ship,  which  was  then  undoubtedly  the 
finest  of  American  naval  vessels.  y\fter  the  tour  of  the  ship  had  been 
made,  the  host   said,  as  they  stood  chatting  on  the  quarter-deck, — 

"Well,  what  do  you  think  of  her.'" 

"She  is  one  of  the  finest  frigates,  if  not  the  very  finest,  I  ever  put 
my  fool  aboard  of,"  responded  the  I-lnglishman  ;  "  but,  as  I  must  find 
some  fault,  I'll  just  say  that  your  wheel  is  one  of  the  clumsiest  things  I 
ever  saw,  and   is  unworthy  of  the  vessel." 

The  American  officer  laughed. 

"Well,  you  see,"  said  he,  "when  the  'Constitution'  took  the  'Java,' 
the  former's  wheel   was  shot    out  of    her.      The   'Java's'   wheel  was  fitted 


THE    LAST   OF    THE  JAVA. 


:  , ! 


1 


!  J 


5:' 


511 


i     fii 


M 


;   i  , 


I 


11 


i    ', 


1 


fi^mM 


HLUF:-jACKi:'rs  of  1S12. 


165 


on  the  victorious  fri-j;atc,  to  steer  by ;  and,  although  we  think  it  as  ugly 
as  you  do,  we  keep  it  as  a  trophy." 

All  criticisms  on  the  wheel  ended  then  and  there. 

The  defeat  of  the  "Java"  closed  the  warfare  on  the  ocean  during 
1S12.  The  year  ended  with  the  honors  largely  in  the  possession  of  the 
United  States  navy.  The  British  could  boast  of  the  capture  of  but  two 
armed  vessels,  —  the  "Nautilus,"  whose  capture  by  an  jverw'elming  force 
we  have  already  noted;  and  the  little  brig  "  Vi.xen,"  twelve  guns,  which 
.Sir  James  Yeo,  with  the  "  S  i.ithanipton,"  thirty-two,  had  overhauled  and 
captured  in  the  latter  i)art  of  November.  The  capture  of  the  "Wasp" 
by  the  "  I'oictiers,"  when  the  American  sloop-of-war  was  cut  up  by  her 
actidii  with  the  "  Frolic,"  was  an  occurrence,  which,  however  unfortunate 
for  the  Americans,  reflected  no  particular  honor  upon  the  British  arms. 

Ill  opposition  to  this  record,  the  Americans  could  bt)ast  of  victory  in 
four  hard-fougiit  battles.  In  no  c.ise  had  they  won  through  any  lack  (  f 
valor  on  tlie  part  of  their  antagonists;  for  the  ICnglishmen  iiad  not 
sought  to  avoid  tin-  battle,  and  liad  fouglit  with  the  dogged  v.dor  char- 
acteristic of  their  iiation.  In  one  or  two  instances,  it  is  true  that  the 
Americans  were  nioii'  powerful  than  llie  foe  wiicn  they  engaged  ;  but,  in 
sucli  cases,  the  injury  inflicted  was  out  of  all  pioportion  to  the  disparity 
in  size  of  the  combatants.  Tiie  foiii-  great  actions  resulting  in  liie  defeat 
of  the  "  (lUerriere,"  the  "  I'"rolic,  "  the  "Macedonian,"  and  tiie  "Ja\.i," 
showed  conclusively  tiial  tiie  American  blue-jackets  were  e(pia!  in  courage 
to    the'..    iJn.ish    opponents,  and    far  their  superiors  in  coolness,  skill,  dis- 


cipI'iK,    iiKi  self-relianii 


an( 


1    tlu'se    ipi.dities    may   be    said    to   li;i\i-  wun 


thi 


IMI 


lis    for    tiie    American    na\  v    that 


were    conceiled    to    it    |jy    a! 


impartial  ol)servers. 

Ik'sides  the  victories  over  the  four  British  ships  enumerated,  the 
Americans  had  captured  the  "  .Alert,"  and  a  British  transport  bcuing  a 
considerable  detachment  of  troops.  These  ach':vements,  as  involving  no 
bloodshed,  may  be  set  off  against  the  captures  of  tiie  "Nautilus"  and 
"Vixen"  by  the  British.  Of  the  number  of  British  merchant-vessels 
captured,  the  records  are  .so  incomplete  tiiat   no  accurate  estimate  can  be 


i         ( 


f 


i 


.     IP 

I 


' 
( 


1^1 

1 

r 

11 

>  ■ 

1  IB 

. 

i  H 

i 

1 

'Hi 

' 

i  \Wi 


\'^\ 


: 


1 66 


liMK-J.UKKTS   OK    i,Si2. 


niailc.  To  the  naval  vessel;-,  are  accredited  forty-six  captures  among  the 
enemy's  merchant-marine,  and  this  estimate  is  prohahly  very  nearly  accu- 
rate. Hut  with  the  declaration  of  war,  Portsmouth,  Salem,  Ne  .  London, 
New  N'ork,  Hallimore,  and,  indeed,  every  American  seaport,  fitted  out  (ieet 
privateers  to  prey  upon  the  enemy's  commerce.  Die  sails  of  this  private 
armed  navy  fairly  whitened  the  sea,  and  few  nights  were  not  illuminated 
by  the  flames  of  some  burning  i)ri/.e.  As  their  thief  object  was  pluiuUr, 
the  aim  of  the  privateers  was  to  get  theit  prize  safely  into  port  ;  but, 
when  this  was  impossible,  they  were  not  slow  in  applying  the  torch  to 
the  captured  vessel.  I'he  injury  they  indicted  upon  the  enemy  was 
enormous,  and  the  record  of  their  exploits  might  well  engage  the  indus- 
try of  painstaking  historians.  As  an  adjunct  to  the  rcgulai  na\y,  they 
were  of  great  service  in  bringing  the  war  to  a  happv  coiiclusi((n. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  I'ritish  men-of-war  and  jirivateers 
were  idle  while  the  Americans  were  thus  sweeping  the  seas.  More  than 
one  American  vessel  set  sail  boldly  trom  some  little  New  Mngland  port, 
freighted  with  the  ventures  of  all  classes  of  tradtsmeii,  only  to  bi-  snapped 
up  by  a  rapacious  cruiser.  lUit  the  nurcanlile  marine  ol  the  I'niled 
States  was  but  small,  and  offered  no  such  rewards  to  enter|)rising  priva- 
teers as  did  the  goodly  fleets  of  W'est-Indiamen  that  bore  the  Hag  ot 
Great  Hritain.  And  so,  while  the  American  privateers  were  thriving  and 
reaping  rich  rewards  of  gold  and  glory,  those  of  tlte  British  were  gradu- 
ally abantloning  privateering  in  disgust.  The  .Xnieritan  prize-lists  grew 
so  large,  that  the  newspapers  connnenced  tlu'  practici'  of  publi-'-hing 
weekly  a  list  of  the  enemy's  ships  taken  during  the  week  past.  In 
lialtimore,  Henry  Xiles,  in  his  paper  "The  Weekly  Uegister,"  robbed 
"The   London    Xaval   ("hionicle"  of  its  vainglorious  moitu, — 

"  Tlic  winds  and  seas  arc  Ilritain's  hro.id  domain. 


And  not  a  sail  Ixit  Ky  pcrniissit 


on  sprcuds. 


This  sentiment  Nik>  printed  at  the  head  of  his  weekly  list  ol  British 
vessels  captured  by  United  States  vessels, — a  bit  of  satire  not  often 
cqualleil  in  the  columns  of  Jiewspapers  of  tu-day. 


•"^,--^   ^_ 


-^1 


t 


t>i\ 


,.«■( 


■S.:.     <t^^    i.^^^^ 


^-> 


^-/ 


CMAITI-K    VII. 


Till.  WAK   ii\   nil     I.\Ki:>.-TIII.   .VIT.VCK   ON    SACKl.TTS   IIARIinR.  -  ))I.I\  I  l<    IIA/AKl'   ri'.KUV 
tikM.KII)    TO   LAKE   l.kll.-  lilt   l!A  11  I.I.  Hi    J'l;  I-IN-IIAV. 


1^1 


I 


y 


in- 


ns iKiw  ahM 


iidun 


(or  ,1  tiiiir  (uir  considfrat""^  ( 


if  tl 


U'  |i|(»i;i'i'ss 


war  on   llu'  ocimm,  and  t'.trn   our  attintum    in 


of  till'  j^roat    nav 

a  Iniiiiblcr  llivatn-,  in   wlurh   llu-  drania  of  l)a(tK'  was  inoiccdin;; 

with    no   loss    tic'dit    u)   tlu'  Anu-riian  partiiipants,  tlioiij^h   with 


CSS    ^rand    and    ins]iinn^    accessories. 


On    tlir    u'cat    freshwater    lakes 


which  skirt  the  northern  frontiii  of  the  Cnited  .Statis,  the  two  warring 
|)ower>  contended  (ierccly  for  the  mastery.  Mnt  there  were  no  desiierate 
(hiels  l)etween  well-niati  hid  frigates;  nor,  indeed,  did  either  the  Hiitish 
or  American  s(|nadron  of  tlie  lake  station  boast  a  craft  of  snTlicieiit 
armament   to    l)c    lerme(l    a  frij^ate,   until    the  war  was    nearly  at    an    end. 


\\.\ 


>.(es,   };;unh()ats,    sloops,    schooners,    and    hnj^s    niadi'    up    tiie    sipKuncus 


that  fought  for  tlie  possession  of  tiie  fresh-w.iter  seas  ;  and  few  lither  of 
the  jackies  of  the  forecastle  <»r  the  olficers  of  the  tjiiarter-deck  were  bred 
to  the  regular  service.     With  such  forces  il   could    j)nly  happen    that    the 

■67 


i 


V%^ 


h    I 


I 


I6S 


in,ri:-jA(Ki:rs  ov  isi-. 


L'luoiinlcrs  of  the  foes  should  he  little  more  than  skirmishes,  and  that 
luither  in  immediali'  loss  ot  lile  nor  in  direct  results  sliould  these  skir- 
inislu's  JH'  ini|torlant.  Such,  in  fait,  was  the  "general  charaeter  of  the 
hostilities  on  the  lakes,  with  two  noteworthy  exee|)tions,  —  Perry's  vietoi* 
at  I'ut  in  M.iy.  and  Mel)onouj;h's  successful  resistance  of  the  liritish  on 
I.akc  Champlain. 

That  the  war  should  invade  the  usually  peaceful  w;ilers  of  Ontario. 
I'aie,  and  I'haniplain.  was  iiu'\ital)le  from  the  physical  iharacteristiLs  of 
the  nortlu-rn  fronlie  ■  oi  the  I'nited  States,  (ireat  Ihitain  held  Canada  ; 
and  an  in\asion  of  her  enemy's  lerritoiv  from  that  province  was  a  militarv 
measure,  the  advisahility  of  which  was  evident  to  the  most  untaught 
soldiet.  No  o\erland  (.'.vpedition  could  liopi'  to  maki-  its  wa\-  tl»roui.',h  the 
diii^e  forests  of  .Maine,  New  llam|)shire,  \'ermoiit.  or  the  Adiroiulaik 
re-ion  ol  Niw  N'ork,  Hut  tlie  lakes  oiferi'd  a  tem])lin;;  openinj;  for  iina- 
sion.  I'.n  ticularU  tlid  the  placid,  na'.i^ahle  waters  of  Lake  ("hamplain, 
stretchiu''    from   the  tan.ida    line  far  into  the    heart   of    Xew   \'ork,  in\ite 


tlu'    mvaiU'r 


diile    Lakes    I'.ri 


e  ,ind  (  )ntario  afforded  an  i>ppoitunit\  for 
atl.ickiui;  tlu  Americans  on  what  was  then,  practically,  their  western 
front ii  I, 


lie 


.\n 


ericans  were  not   slow   in  perceiving  tlu-  dangers    that    threat- 


eiu'il    tluir    luMtli westem    Irontier.   aiul    beL;.m    to   jirepare   for  its    defence 


nui^t    eiur;ietKa 


Ih 


a(    the 


first 


tieclaration  of    wn 


It    was    a   wori 


that 


t.iNed   ti)  tlu    utnu>sl   the   rcsomies  of    the   voum:   muntrs 


ri 


le   sluiri's   ol 


tlu 


aKes  as 


f; 


11    wes 


t   as   Detroit    were  ojien  to  tlie  attacks  of  the  I'l 


u-mv, 


aiul.  .dthou;;h  part  of  the  tiiiitory  of  the    Lnited   .States,  were   reallv  more 
aicessihle  to  tlu    in\.i<lers  than   lo  the  American  de*^.  "ulers.     The  popula- 


lief 


ore 


tion  w.is  sparse,  and  the  means  of  transportation  very  primilve, 
the  d.!\s  of  railroads,  canals,  or  even  well-kept  turni>ikes,  tri'op>,  siamen, 
ordnance,  and  all  munitions  of  war  c(»ulil  only  he  transported  fn  m  the 
cities  on  tlu*  seacoast  hv  the  nu)st  lahoi  ious  liauiiii};  over  road'  hardly 
worthy  of  the  nanuv  Noi  w,is  the  transportation  |)rohlem  solved  during; 
the  continuaiu'e  of  the  war  When  in  .'^Liy,  \H\.\,  the  new  L'nitei  States 
frigate  ".Superior"  lay  at    her    doik    al    .Sackett's    llarhor,  her    oidnance, 


HLUK-JACKKTS  OV    1S12. 


169 


stores,  and  cordage  had  to  he  hrou^lit  from  ( )s\vo;^o  l-'alls.  some  fifty 
miles  away.  A  clear  water-route  by  the  Oswej^o  River  and  the  lake 
offered  itself;  but  Sir  James  \'eo,  with  his  si|uadroii,  was  blockadiii;^  the 
mouth  of  the  harbor,  and  the  ehaiue  for  blockade-runners  was  ,>mall 
indeed.  To  carry  the  hea\y  ordnance  and  caiiles  oviTJand,  w;is  out  ni  the 
question.  l"he  dilemma  was  most  perplexin-,  but  N'ankec  iMi;eiuiily  finally 
enabled  the  "Superior"  to  j;et  her  outfit.  'I'he  equipment  was  luailed 
upon  a  smal'  fleet  of  barj^es  and  scows,  which  a  veteran  lake  captain  took 
to  a  point  si.xteen  miles  from  the  blockr.ded  harbor.  \\y  sailinj;  by  niL;lit, 
and  skulking'  up  creeks  and  inland  water-ways,  the  transports  reached  this 
point  without  attracting;-  the  attention  of  the  blockadin;;-  fleet.  They  hail, 
however,  hardly  arriveil  when  news  of  the  enler]irise  came  to  the  ears  of 
the  liritish,  and  an  expedition  was  sent  to  intercept  the  Americans,  which 
expedition  the  N'ankees  successfully  resisted.  The  (juestion  iIkii  arose  .is 
to  how  the  stores  were  t'l  be  taken  across  the  sixteen  miles  of  m.ir>h 
and  forest  that  l.iy  between  the  bo. its  and  the  n.ivy-\ard  at  .Sackitt's 
Harbor.  'Ihe  lannon  and  lighter  stores  were  trans|:.orted  on  he.i\\  caits 
with  ^;reat  dillicully,  but  there  still  remained  the  ;;reat  cable.  I  low  to 
move  this  was  a  serious  (iuesti<in.  No  cut  could  be.ir  its  pondciuu^ 
wei};ht  of  ninety-si.\  hundred  jiounds.  Aj;aiii  V.mkii.'  inL;enuity  .iiid  pluck 
canie    to  tlu'    rescue.      I'wo  hundred    men  volunteered    to  carr\    Ihe    ure.it 


r< 
A 


)pe    on    their    shoulders,    and    in    this    w.iy    it    actually 


w.is 


ti.insported 


on^  the  shore  of  the  little  crerk  tiu'  ;;re.it  cable  w.i--  Niretcl:ed  out 
with  prodij;ious  labor,  .md  lav  there  lookin,:;  like  a  ;^i.L;antu  serpent  The 
two  hundred  men  r.inj;ed  themselves  aloii;^  the  line  at  riL;ul.ii  inlnvals, 
and  ata^iven  sij;nal  hoisted  the  burden  td  their  shoulders.  At  tiu'word 
of  e<jmman(',  all  steppetl  oil  briskly  to;;elher,  and  tlie  Inn-  lim-  wmmd 
aloiij;  thr  n.irrow  path  through  the  forests,  They  started  lUiI  clui-rily 
cnou;;h,  enlivenin-  the  woik  with  son};s  and  jests  ;  but  ;t  the  end  uf  the 
first  mile  .dl  were  };Litl  «'nouj,di  to  throw  down  the  lo.id,  ;iiid  Initrr  ;i  whiiu 
by  tlu  ro.ulvj«le.  A  few  minutes'  rest,  .md  up  .ind  mi  .i;;ain.  \ow  arms 
benan  to  ;h  iu  ,  and  shoulders  to  chafe,  uiuK'r  tin  uiui-ual  bin<Kii  ;  hut  the 
march  continued  until  noon  of  the  next  dav.  when  the  footsore  .nul  .veary 


I    I 


n 


'  4| 


t 


170 


ni,n:-j.\("Ki;i"s  ok  1S12. 


I 


\i 


carriers  marched  proudly  into  Sackctt's  1  larlior,  to  find  sailors  and  soldiers 
assembled  to  ;;reel  them  with  bands  and  eannon-liring.  In  accordance 
with  the  custom  of  the  time,  these  demonstrations  of  honor  were  supple- 
mented by  the  opening  of  a  barrel  of  whiskey,  in  honor  of  the  arrival  of 
the  cable. 

'i'l:is  incident,  trivial  in  itself,  is  typical  of  th;it  im^enuity  and  ferlilitv 
of  resource,  which,  more  than  any  tliini;  else,  contributed  to  the  success  nf 
the  Amcri'-ans,  not  only  in  the  lake  operations  of  the  war  of  iSij,  but  in 
evcrv  war  the  n.ition  has  since  undi-rtaki'U.  Hut  the  advantaj;es  };ained 
by  \'ankee  enterprise  and  inj^enuity  were,  perhaps,  more  evident  in  the 
operations  on  Lake  ( )ntario  and  Lake  V.v'ic  than  in  the  operations  of 
the  armies,  or  of  the  fleets  ujjon  the  ocean.  The  j^reat  lontest  lav  more 
in  the  rapid  buildin;;  of  ships  than  in  ti,L;htin};  them.  At  the  outset  the 
enemy  were  belter  e(|uip[)ed  for  the  stru^};le  than  were  the  Americans. 
'I'he  Canadian  frontier  had  been  lon;;er  settled,  and  could  lend  more  men 
to  tlie  needs  of  the  nation.  More  than  tiiis,  the  roiite  to  the  ocean  by 
the  St.  Lawrence  River  made  it  really  easier  to  transport  naval  stores 
from  far-off  Liverpool  to  the  Hritish  naval  station  on  the  shores  of  Lake 
( )ntario,  th.in  to  carry  like  i;oods  across  the  wooiled  hills  of  New  \'ork. 
.\or  were  the  Hritisli  alto^i'iher  witiiout  naval  resources  upon  the  lakes 
It  tlie  liiiur  wiK'H  war  w.is  declared.  (  )n  Lake  Lrie  tiie  l'!nj;lish  fla;; 
waved  over  t!u-  "Royal  (ieor;;e,"  t  wrnt\-t  wo  ;  "  I'riiue  Rci^ent,"  sixteen; 
"  Larl  of  Moira,"  fourteen;  "  ( iloucester,"  ten;  ".Seneca,"  ei<;ht  ,  and 
"  Sinu'oi',"  ei,L;hl.  (Apposed  tn  this  si|U.ulron  was  but  one  rnited  .States 
vessel,  —  the  "Oneida,"  a  man-of-war  bri^  carryinj;  si.vteen  t  ,venty-four- 
pound  earronailes.  (  )n  L.ike  i'aie  the  Hritish  had  a  scpiadron  of  si.\ 
vessels,  carryin}^  in  all   forlv-six  j;uns. 

Hostilities  opened  earl\  on  Lake  Ontario.  I'or  some  time  before  the 
I'ormal  diHl.iration  of  war,  a  desultory  warfare  had  been  waged  by  the 
i\mericans  and  Canadians  about  Xiaj^ar.i.  Canadian  schooners  had  been 
seized  on  account  of  all'.'};ed  violations  of  the  revenue  and  embarj^o  rej^u- 
lations  of  the  I'nited  Stales.  The  resentment  of  the  sufferers  was  aroused, 
and  the)  ^)nl)  awaitcil  a  suitable  opportunity  to  retaliate.     The  oppctrtunity 


i    h 


;  !•  i 


liLUK-JACKKlS   1)1     i6\. 


171 


Mioii  canic,  in  tho  form  of  the  ilcclaratimi  nl  war;  and  a  Ixxly  of  C/anadian 
volunteers  attacketl  eiy;lit  American  schooners,  near  the  'Ihoiisantl  Isles, 
and  burned  two  of  them. 

With  the  opening;  of  the  war,  the  I'nited  Stales  authorities  had  fixed 
u|)oM  Sackett's  lIari)or  as  the  naval  station  for  I.aKj  (  hitario.  In  the 
harbor,  on  the  19th  of  jul\,  iSij,  lay  liie  "<  )neida,  "  whieh  had  lately 
I'ome  into  port  after  a  short  cruise  in  search  of  Hriti^-h  schoniKis.  ,\l 
early  dawn  of  the  dav  mentioned,  the  lookout  rejxirted  live  ships  in  tlie 
offinj;,  and  a  few  minutes  later  hailed  the  deck,  to  report  iheni  to  be 
British  ships-of-war.  The  alarm  (piickl)-  spread  over  the  little  town.  Tuny 
thou^^h  the  British  Meet  would  have  appealed  upon  the  ocean,  it  was  of 
ample  power  to  take  the  "Oneida"  and  destroy  the  \  illa;,^e.  Before  tlie 
villaj^ers  fairly  understood  their  peril,  a  small  bo.it  came  scuddini;'  into 
the  harbor  before  the  wind.  It  bore  a  me.s.sane  Irom  the  liriush  com- 
mander, demandini;  that  the  "  ( )neida "  and  the  "Lord  ^■el.^on  "  (a  cap- 
tured Canadian  vessel)  be  surreiulered.  .'Should  the  s(|uadron  be  ri'sisted, 
he  warned  the  inhabitants  that  their  town  sh<iuld  be  burned  to  the 
ground. 

Commander  Woolsey,  wIk)  commanded  the  "Oneida,"  was  a  I'nited 
States  olTicer  of  the  re,L;ular  service,  and  a  man  of  coura_L;e  and  fertility 
of  resource.  I'nable  to  take  his  vessel  out  into  tlu'  lake,  he  moored  her 
at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor  in  such  a  way  that  her  broadside  of  nine 
j;uns  mi^ht  be  brouLjht  to  bear  on  the  I'liemy.  v\ll  hands  then  set  to 
work  jicttin^  the  other  broadside  l)atter\  ashore;  and,  by  the  aid  of  the 
villagers,  these  L;uns  were  mounti'd  on  a  hastil\-  thrown  up  redoubt  on 
the  shore.  At  the  foot  of  the  main  street  of  the  villa^^'  was  planti'd  a 
ipieerly  assorted  batterv.  The  threat  j;un,  on  which  the  hopes  of  the 
Americans  centred,  was  an  iron  thirty-twopounder,  which  had  lain  for 
)ears    deeply    embedded    in    the    muddy    00/e    of    the    hike-shore,   };;iininL; 


thereby  the   derisive 


name   o 


f    tl 


le 


01 


d    .Sow. 


Th 


IS    redou 


btal 


)le    ;iiecc 


of  orchiance  was  flanked  (tn  either  siile  by  a  brass  si.x-pounder  ;  a  pair  of 
cannon  that  the  Vankee  sailors  iiad,  with  infiir.te  pains  and  indomitable 
perseverance,  dredged   up    from    the    sunken    iuilk  of   a   British  war-vessel 


I*  » 


I 


\      1 


1     1 


I     I' 


1      ■ 


172 


iii.n:-iAiKi:rs  of  iSu. 


that  hail  filled  a  watery  ^ravc  sonu"  years.  Two  hrass  nine-pouiulers  c<mi- 
pleted  this  novel  armament. 

It  was  al)i)iit  ei^lu  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  the  Hritish  vessels 
came  up  williin  range.  Alarm  guns  hail  been  firing  from  the  shore  all 
the  morning  ;  and  by  that  lime  the  village  was  filled  with  militia-men, 
wiio  flocked  to  the  scene  of  action.  Woolsey,  who  had  taken  charge  of 
the  shore-batteries,  ordered  a  shot  from  the  thirty-two  pounder.  The  "  old 
sow"  spoke  out  bravely,  but  the  shot  missing,  only  roused  the  enemy  to 
laughter,  which  couKl  be  heard  on  shore.  The  British  vessels  then  liegan 
a  \igorous  cannonade,  keeping  well  out  of  range  of  the  small  guns  on 
shore ;  altiiough  so  weak  were  the  American  defences,  thai  a  vigorous 
onslaught  by  the  enemy  would  have  quickly  reduced  the  town  to  submis- 
sion. As  It  was.  a  harmless  fire  was  kept  up  for  about  two  hours.  Not 
a  shot  took  eilecl,  and  nothing  s;ive  the  noise  and  excitement  of  the 
cannonading  need  have  deterred  the  good  people  of  Sackell's  llaibor 
Iroin  observing  that  Sunday  morning  in  accordance  with  their  usual 
sabbath  customs,  it  was  reserved  for  one  shot  to  put  an  {^ud  lo  this 
strange  engagement.  Just  as  the  artillerists  who  serveil  the  iron  thirty- 
two  |)oundei  were  loading  the  gun,  a  cannon-ball  struck  the  ground  near 
the  battery.  One  of  tiie  .Americans  ran,  and,  picking  up  the  spent  ball, 
brought  it  into  the  battery,  .saying,  "  I've  been  playing  ball  with  the  red- 
coals,  and  have  caught  them  out.  Let's  see  now  if  they  can  catch  back 
again."  So  saying,  he  rammed  the  missile  down  the  muzzle  of  the  long 
thirty-two,  and  sent  it  back  with  deadly  aim.  The  captured  ball  crashed 
into  the  stern  of  the  "  Royal  (Jeorge,"  rakeil  her  from  stem  to  stern, 
killing  fourteen  men,  and  wounding  eighteen  in  its  course.  The  marks- 
man, watching  the  course  of  his  shot,  saw  the  splinters  tly  from  the  deck 
of  the  Hritish  ship;  and  the  iVmericans  cheered  loudly  for  the  "old  sow" 
.IS  the  Hritish  squadron  put  about,  and  left  the  Sackell's  Harbor  pe(n.ile 
to  celebrate  their  easily  won  victory. 

Insignificant  though  thi.^  engagement  was,  it  was  the  chief  battle  of 
the  year  on  Lake  Ontario.  The  Americans  strained  every  nerve  lo  put 
more    armed    vessels    afloat,    and,  being    left    unmolested    by    the    Hriii.^h, 


nuinaj;L<l  to  have  (|iiilc  a  Hotilla  in  c'limmissidn  hcltno  uiiilrr  set  its  uy 
seal  upnii  the  lake.  In  ScptcinlKT,  Capt,  Isaac  Chaiiiucy  was  appoiiUt'd 
commander-in-chief  of  the  lake  navy  ;  and,  on  iiis  arrival,  lie  proved  him- 
self the  very  man  for  tlie  place,  lie  rushed  aiiead  the  hiiildin;;  of  new 
ships,  arranged  for  the  tiansportation  of  seamen  from  the  seacoast  to 
man  the  vessels  on  the  lakes,  and  tiien,  no;  conli-iU  with  attending  only 
to  the  building;  of  the  ships,  took  command  oi  the  s(|nadroii  in  i(immis- 
sion,  and  fairly  swept  the  lake  clear  of  the  enemy's  vessels.  lie  met 
with  little  opposition  as  the  British  retired  to  their  na\al  station  .it 
Kinjiston,  rcmainini;  there  until  all  further  na\.d  operations  weri'  checked 
l)y  the  ice. 

Winter,  which  seriously  impeded  the  woik  of  the  Hritish  by  pultin;; 
an  end  to  navigation  upon  the  St.  Lawrence,  did  away  with  many  of  the 
dilficulties  of  tr.msportation  which  had  so  hampered  the  .\mericans. 
The  roads  to  the  seacoast  ^rew  hard,  anil  wcri-  soon  covered  with  snow, 
o\er  which  lon;^  teams  of  o.sen  ploikled  to  and  tio  until  the  path  was 
We'll  broken.  Then  bewail  the  hauling  of  sup|)lies  from  the  se.iboard. 
l''rom  his  post  at  Sacketl's  Harbor,  Chauncey  sent  out  ie(|uisitions  for 
ship-timber,  corda,i;e,  ordnance,  and  ship  carpenters.  Lon;;  ii  lins  of 
hea\ily  laden  waL;i)ns  and  sled,i.;es  woi ml  their  way  across  the  .State  from 
Xew  \'oik  or  Albany  to  the  st.itiou  at  S.ickett's  llarbor.  .X-ents  were 
appointed  in  the  seacoast  towns  to  enlist  seamen  !or  service  on  the 
l.ikes,  —  a  work  that  reipured  no  small  [uiwers  of  persuasion;  for  the  true 
salt-water  jack  looks  with  ^M'eat  disfavor  upon  the  "  fish-ponds  "  of  fresh 
water.  Hut,  by  dint  of  munilicent  ofters  of  liounlies  and  pri/.e money, 
several  hundred  sailors  were  induced  to  leave  their  ships  on  the  ocean, 
and  take  service  in  the  infant  na\y  of  the  lakes. 


Most  of  the  sailors  were  sent   across  the  .State  in  the  ilead 


■f 


winter. 


The  tii|>  was  made  in  lui}.';e  sleds,  drawn   bv  se\eral   p.urs   of    horses,  and 


carrym^  a  score  or  more  men  e.icl 


ri 


le 


acki 


es    e 


nliv 


ened    the    jouriiev 


with  rollicking-  son>.(s  and  stories  as  the  sleds  sped  ovi-i  the  well-packeci 
roads  throu;;h  the  sparsely  settled  coimtry.  One  of  the  larjjest  parties 
was  aceompanieil  by  a  brass  bami,  with  the  aid  of  which  the  sailors  made 


n 


t  .ii 


!3 


I 


, 


'7  1 


iii.n:  I  \(  Ki'.rs  or  isu. 


tlu'ii'  (.'lit rami'  ti»  the  \illai;c^  alnii:;  tlu'  mail  in  tiiilv  inval  ^tvlc.  I'lu- 
.sk'i^liN  ami  lidiM's  wi'ix'  ;;ayly  dfikt'd  with  tlu-  national  colors.  Tlu-  hand 
Ii-il  in  till'  fii^t  slri:;!!,  iIom'Iv  follnuril  Kv  thici'  otluT  slc(lj;cs,  filled  witli 
hliii- (oatnl  nu'ii.  lU'fniv'  tlu'  liltU'  tawin  nt  tju'  town  tiu-  rorfi'i^r  ii>iiall\' 
caiiu'  to  a  lialt  ;  and  tln'  taiN,  di'stcndinu,,  lollowcd  np  tluir  rcLiulation 
clu'cTs  with  diiiiand.s  for  i^io;;  and  pnivcndi-r.  AIIlt  a  halt  ol'  an  hour 
oi  two,  thr  |)art\  idntinncil  its  wav,  lollowrd  hv  tlu'  adniiialion  ol  iaimv 
villa.i^L'r,  and  iIk-  cn\y  ol  cwry  hoy  large-  i-nou-h  to  have  se.ilarin-- 
ambitions. 

With  all  his  cniTu'v  and  iniswor\in,L;  lidilitv  to  Ihi-  rausr  ol  his  toimtry, 
('hauni'i'\  |irohal)lv  ili<l  nothini;  ol  inoi\'  diieil  hrnetit  to  thr  Tnited 
Statrs  tiian  writini;  a  litter  to  i  voun'j,  naval  oHi(.er.  then  statione'l  at 
\(U|poit,  askini;  hiiii  to  inine  Wist  and  take  i  har^e  ol  the  na\al  o|>era- 
tions  on  Lake  laie.  I'he  name  of  this  \oun:;  olTieer  was  ()livei  lla/ard 
l'eir\-,  anil  a  vear  latei'  no  name  m  Ameriean  history  eaiiied  with  it 
mule  l.inu'. 

Hostilities  on  Lake  i'liie  had  lieen  unimportant  up  to  the  time  that 
('hauneey  M'lit  loi  JV  i  r) .  The  Ameiieaiis  liad  no  na\al  wssel  to  op])ose 
to  the  Meet  ol  (  anadian  eraft  thai  held  the  laki'.  (  )ne  war-vi'ssel  onl\- 
had  shown  the  Ameriean  111;  on  the  lake;  ami  she  iiad  heen  lilted  out 
liy  tlu'  arm\-,  and  had  lalUii  into  the  liamK  of  the  I'Hemv  at  the  sur 
rendei  ol  hetroit.  Mul  this  prize  was  not  destined  to  remain  lon;^  in 
the  hand-,  of  the  ('anadiaus.  j-^aiK-  in  the  autun-.n  of  I S  i  _\  Clianneey 
had  srnt  Lieut.  I'.lliott  to  Lake  j-aie,  with  in^t  i  lut  ions  to  henin  at  onee 
the  iieation  o|  a  iK-rl  In  huildiii:;'  or  punhasini;  vessels.  Llliott  i  hosj 
as  the  siti-  III  lii->  impro\isi-d  na\  v-vanl  IMaek  Roek,  a  point  two  miles 
lielow  lUillalo  ;  and  iheie  pushed  ahead  his  work  in  a  wav  that  soon  eon- 
\ineed  the  i-nemw  th.it,  unless  the  voun^;  olVieer's  i-nern'V  re(-eived  a  eheek, 
Hiitish  siipremaev  on  I.aki-  Lrie  wouM  smm  hr  at  an  i-nd.  ;\t-eordin,L;lv, 
two  armed  hri-s,  the  "(aK-donia  "  and  the  "  Detroit,"  reeeiUlv  captured  hv 
the  British,  eame  down  to  put  an  vwd  to  tin-  \'ankee  ship-huildiiiL;.  Like 
most  of  tlu-  enemv's  vessels  on  the  lakes,  these  two  l)riu,s  were  maimed  by 
Canadians,  and   had   not  e\en  the  ad\antaj;e  of  a  rcj.'ular  naval  conmiander. 


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BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


177 


On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  October,  the  sentries  on  the  river-side 
at  Black  Rock  discovered  the  two  British  vessels  lying  at  anchor  under 
the  guns  of  Fort  Erie,  a  British  work  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Niagara 
River,  that  there  flows  placidly  along,  a  stream  more  than  a  mile  wide. 
Zealous  for  distinction,  and  determined  to  checkmate  the  enemy  in  their 
design,  Elliott  resolved  to  undertake  the  task  of  cutting  out  the  two  vessels 
from  beneath  the  guns  of  the  British  fort.  Fortune  favored  his  enter- 
prise. It  happened  that  on  that  very  day  a  detachment  of  sailors  from 
the  ocean  had  arrived  at  Black  Rock.  Though  wearied  by  their  long 
overland  journey,  the  jackies  were  ready  for  the  adventure,  but  had  no 
weapons.  In  this  dilemma  Elliott  was  forced  to  turn  for  aid  to  the 
military  authorities,  from  whom  he  obtained  pistols,  swords,  and  sabres 
enough  to  fit  out  his  sailors  for  the  fray.  With  the  arms  came  a  number 
of  soldiers  and  a  small  party  of  adventurous  citizens,  all  of  whom  enlisted 
under  the  leadership  of  the  adventurous  Elliott.  In  planning  the  expedi- 
tion, the  great  difficulty  lay  in  getting  rid  of  the  too  numerous  volunteers. 

By  nightfall,  the  preparations  for  the  expedition  were  completed.  In 
the  underbrush  that  hung  over  the  banks  of  the  river,  two  large  boats 
were  concealed,  ready  for  the  embarkation.  At  midnight  fifty  men,  armed 
to  the  teeth,  silently  took  their  places  in  each  of  the  great  barges,  and 
pushed  out  upon  the  black  surface  of  the  river.  All  along  the  bank 
were  crowds  of  eager  watchers,  who  discussed  the  chances  of  success  with 
bated  breath,  lest  the  merest  whisper  should  alarm  the  British  sentries 
on  the  farther  shore.  With  steady  strokes  of  the  muffled  oars,  the  two 
boats  made  their  way  toward  the  two  brigs  that  could  just  be  seen  out- 
lined against  the  sky.  Elliott,  in  the  first  boat,  directed  the  movements 
of  his  men,  and  restrained  the  too  enthusiastic.  So  stealthy  was  the 
approach,  that  the  foremost  boat  was  fairly  alongside  of  the  "Detroit" 
before  the  British  took  the  alarm.  Then  the  quick  hail  of  the  sentry 
brought  an  answering  pistol-shot  from  Elliott ;  and,  amid  volleys  of  mus- 
ketry, the  assailants  clambered  up  the  sides  of  the  brigs,  and  with  pistol 
and  cutlass  drove  the  startled  crew  below.  So  complete  was  the  surprise, 
that  the  British  made  but  little  resistance ;  and  the   cables  of   the   brigs 


i 


!ii* 

'i 


!    i 


\\ 


I 


i 


r    11 


178 


blue-jacki-:ts  of  1812. 


were  cut,  sails  spread,  and  the  vessels  under  way,  before  the  thunder  of 
a  gun  from  Fort  Erie  told  that  the  British  on  shore  had  taken  the  alarm. 

At  the  report  of  the  first  shot  fired,  the  dark  line  of  the  American 
shore  suddenly  blazed  bright  with  huge  beacon  fires,  while  lanterns  and 
torches  were  waved  from  commanding  points  to  guide  the  adventurous 
sailors  in  their  navigation  of  the  captured  brigs.  But  the  victors  were 
not  to  escape  unscathed  with  their  booty.  The  noise  of  the  conflict,  and 
the  shouts  of  the  Americans  on  the  distant  bank  of  the  river,  roused  the 
British  officers  in  the  fort,  and  the  guns  were  soon  trained  on  the  reced- 
ing vessels.  Some  field-batteries  galloped  along  the  bank,  and  soon  had 
their  guns  in  a  position  whence  they  could  pour  a  deadly  fire  upon  the 
Americans.  Nor  did  the  spectators  on  the  New  York  side  of  the  river 
escape  unharmed  ;  for  the  first  shot  fired  by  the  field-battery  missed  the 
brigs,  b  it  crossed  the  river  and  struck  down  an  American  officer.  Almost 
unmanageable  in  the  swift  current  and  light  wind,  the  two  brigs  seemed 
for  a  time  in  danger  of  recapture.  The  "  Caledonia "  was  run  ashore 
under  the  guns  of  an  American  battery  ;  but  the  "  Detroit,"  after  being 
relieved  of  the  prisoners,  and  deserted  by  her  captors,  was  beached  at  a 
point  within  range  of  the  enemy's  fire.  The  British  made  several  deter- 
mined attempts  to  recapture  her,  but  were  beaten  off ;  and,  after  a  day's 
fighting  around  the  vessel,  she  was  set  on  fire  and  burned  to  the  water's 
edge.  The  "Caledonia,"  however,  remained  to  the  Americans,  and  some 
months  later  did  good  service  against  her  former  owners. 

It  was  shortly  after  this  occurrence  that  Lieut.  Perry  offered  his 
services  for  the  lakes  ;  and  four  months  later  he  received  a  letter  from 
Chauncey,  saying,  "  You  are  the  very  person  that  I  want  for  a  particular 
service,  in  which  you  may  gain  reputation  for  yourself,  and  honor  for 
your  country."  This  letter  was  quickly  followed  by  orders  from  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Navy  to  report  at  once  for  duty  to  Chauncey  at  Sackett's 
Harbor.  Per»-y  was  overjoyed.  The  dull  monotony  of  his  duties  at 
Newport  suited  little  his  ardent  nature.  He  longed  for  active  service, 
and  an  opportunity  to  win  distinction.  His  opportunity  had  at  last  come  ; 
and   twenty  hours   after  the   receipt   of   his   orders,  he   and  his  thirteen- 


w 


1}Lui:-tacki:ts  of  i.si-. 


1/9 


year-old  brother  were  seated  in  a  sleigh  and  fairly  started  on  the  long 
drive  across  the  country.  Travelling  was  a  serious  matter  in  those  days, 
and  the  journey  from  Newport  to  Sackett's  Harbor  required  twelve 
days. 

On  his  arrival,  Perry  found  that  the  special  service  for  which  he  was 
needed  was  the  command  of  a  naval  force  on  Lake  Erie.  He  stopped 
but  a  short  time  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  and  then  pressed  on  to  I^rie,  the 
base  of  the  naval  operations  on  che  lake  of  the  same  name.  It  was  late 
in  March  when  Perry  arrived ;  and  the  signs  of  spring  already  showed 
that  soon  the  lake  would  be  clear  of  ice,  and  the  struggle  for  its  control 
recommence.  The  young  lieutenant  was  indefatigable  in  the  labor  of 
prejjaration.  He  urged  on  the  building  of  vessels  already  begun.  He 
arranged  for  the  purchase  of  merchant  schooners,  and  their  conversion 
into  gunboats.  He  went  to  Pittsburg  for  supplies,  and  made  a  flying 
trip  to  Buffalo  to  join  Chauncey  in  an  attack  upon  Fort  George  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Niagara  River.  All  the  time,  he  managed  to  keep  up  a 
constant  fire  of  letters  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  and  to  Chauncey, 
begging  for  more  sailors.  By  oummertime,  he  had  five  vessels  ready  for 
service,  but  no  men  to  man  them.  The  enemy  blockaded  him,  and  he 
dared  not  accept  the  challenge.  In  July  he  wrote  to  Chauncey:  "The 
enemy's  fleet  of  si.\  sail  are  now  off  the  bar  of  this  harbor.  What  a 
golden  opportunity  if  we  had  men !  .  .  .  Give  me  men,  sir,  and  I  will 
acquire  both  for  you  and  myself  honor  and  glory  on  this  lake,  or  perish 
in  the  attempt."  Again  he  wrote:  "For  God's  sake,  and  yours  and  mine, 
send  me  men  and  officers  ;  and  I  will  have  them  all  [the  British  squad- 
ron] in  a  day  or  two."  When  the  men  finally  did  arrive,  he  was  much 
disgusted  with  their  appearance,  pronouncing  them  to  be  "  a  motley  set, 
—  blacks,  soldiers,  and  boys."  Nevertheless,  this  same  motley  crew, 
headed  by  the  critical  young  officer,  won  a  victory  that  effectually 
crushed  the  pretensions  of  the  enemy  to  the  control  of  Lake  Erie. 

His  crews  having  arrived.  Perry  was  anxious  to  get  out  upon  the 
lake,  and  engage  the  enemy  at  once.  But  this  course  of  action  was  for 
a    long    time    impossible.     The    flotilla    lay    snugly    anchored    within    the 


V   ' 


\    \ 


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In 

fii 

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15LUi:-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


1^  ' 


if 


harbor  of  Eric,  the  entrance  to  which  was  closed  by  a  bar.  lo  cross  this 
bar,  the  ships  would  have  been  obliged  to  send  all  heavy  ordnance 
ashore ;   and,   as    the    enemy   kept    close   watch    outside    the   harbor,    the 


y^^^ 


...  ;,. .  .  mi  ^ 


7 


PERKY'S  RECRUITS. 


Si- 1 


American  fleet  was  practically  blockaded.  For  several  weeks  the  Ameri- 
cans were  thus  kept  prisoners,  grumbling  mightily  at  their  enforced 
inaction,  and  longing  for  a  chance  to  get  at  the  enemy.  One  morning 
in  August  word  was  brought  to  Perry  that  the  blockading  fleet  had  dis- 
appeared.    Instantly  all  was   life   and   'mstle    in   the    harbor.     The   crews 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


iSl 


of  all  the  vessels  were  ordered  aboard ;  and  the  flotilla  dropped  down  to 
the  bar,  intending  to  cross  early  in  the  morning.  At  dawn  the  move- 
ment was  begun.  The  schooners  and  other  small  craft  were  easily 
taken  outside ;  but,  when  it  came  to  the  turn  of  the  two  gun-brigs, 
"  Lawrence "  and  "  Niagara,"  it  became  evident  that  mechanical  assist- 
ance was  required.  Accordingly,  a  powerful  "camel"  was  hastily  impro- 
vised, by  the  aid  of  which  the  two  vessels  were  dragged  across  the  bar. 
Hardly  had  the  second  brig  made  the  passage  in  safety,  when  the  liritish 
fleet  appeared  in  the  offlng.  Tradition  says  that  the  opportune  absence 
of  the  enemy's  fleet  was  caused  by  a  public  banquet  to  which  the  citi- 
zens of  Port  Dover  had  invited  Commodore  Barclay  and  his  officers. 
While  the  dinner  was  going  merrily  on,  the  Americans  were  hard  at 
work,  escaping  from  the  trap  in  which  the  British  had  left  them.  In 
responding  to  a  toast  at  the  banquet,  Barclay  said,  "  I  expect  to  find  the 
Yankee  brigs  hard  and  fast  on  the  bar  at  Erie  when  I  return,  in  which 
predicament  it  will  be  but  a  small  job  to  destroy  them."  His  anticipa- 
tions were  not  realized  ;  for,  on  his  arrival,  he  found  the  entire  squadron 
safely  floating  in  the  deep  water  outside  the  bar. 

Had  Barclay  but  known  it,  he  would  even  then  have  found  it  "but  a 
small  job  to  destroy  them  ; "  for  the  two  brigs,  having  been  stripped  of 
their  ordnance,  would  have  been  easy  prey  for  the  British  squadron.  But 
Perry's  bold  action  in  seiiding  forward  two  schooners  to  engage  the  enemy 
seemed  to  alarm  the  too  prudent  commodore  ;  and  the  British  bore  away, 
and  were  soon  out  of  sight. 

By  night  Perry's  flotilla  was  in  readiness  for  cruising,  and  set  out 
immediately  in  pursuit  of  the  foe.  Barclay  seemed  to  avoid  the  conflict ; 
and,  after  some  weeks'  cruising,  the  Americans  cast  anchor  at  Put-in-Bay, 
and  awaited  there  the  appearance  of  the  enemy. 

The  little  flotilla  that  lay  anchored  on  the  placid  waters  of  the  pictur- 
esque bay  consisted  of  nine  vessels,  ranging  in  size  from  the  "Trippe,"  a 
puny  sloop  carrying  one  gun,  to  the  "  Lawrence "  and  "  Niagara,"  brigs 
carrying  each  two  long  twelves  and  eighteen  short  thirty-twos.  No  very 
formidable  armada  was  that  of  a  handful  of  pygmy  vessels,  commanded  by 


•>    : 


1    -i 


V 


f 


i\   ill 


.  1 


; 


!j 


' ;  :»! 


'IJ- 


(      ;  I 


M 


M 


I  I 


;     I   : 


182 


15LUE-JACKETS  OF    1S12. 


a  young  officer  who  had  never  heard  the  thunderous  cannonade  of  a  naval 

battle,  or  seen  the  decks  of  his  ships  stained  with  the  blood  of  friends  and 

daily  companions.     Yet  the  work  of  the  little  squadron  save:!  the  United 

States  from  invasion,  won  for  the  young  commander  a  never-dying 

I;      fame,  and  clothed  the  vine-clad  hills,  the  pebbly  beaches,  and  the 


DRILLING  THE  RAW  RECRUITS. 


crystal  waters  of  Put-in-Bay  with  a  wealth  of  proud,  historical  associations. 
Day  after  day  the  vessels  lay  idly  at  their  anchorage,  and  the  sailors 
grew  restless  at  the  long  inactivity.  Perry  alone  was  patient ;  for  to  him 
had  come  the  knowledge  that  the  hostile  fleet  was  getting  short  of  sup- 
plies, and  would  soon  be  starved  out  of  its  retreat  at  Maiden.  Knowing 
this,  he  spared  no  pains  to  get  his  men  into  training  for  the  coming  con- 


V 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1S12. 


iSj^ 


flict.  They  were  exercised  daily  at  the  great  guns,  and  put  through  severe 
drills  in  the  use  of  the  cutlass,  in  boarding,  and  repelling  boarders.  Hy 
constant  drill  and  severe  discipline.  Perry  had  made  of  the  motley  crew 
sent  him  a  well-drilled  body  of  seamen,  every  man  of  whom  had  become 
fired  with  the  enthusiasm  of  his  commander. 

As  the  time  passed,  and  the  day  of  battle  drew  nearer.  Perry's  confi- 
dence in  his  men  increased  ;  and  he  looked  upon  the  coming  conflict  as 
one  certain  to  bring  glory  to  his  country.  At  early  dawn  the  jackies  on 
the  ships  could  see  the  slender  form  of  their  commander  perched  upon 
the  craggy  heights  of  one  of  the  islands,  called  to  this  day  "  Perry's 
Lookout,"  eagerly  scanning  the  horizon  in  the  direction  of  INIaldcn.  On 
the  night  of  Sept.  9,  1S13,  the  commodore  felt  convinced  that  on  the 
next  day  the  British  would  come  out  to  battle.  Accordingly,  a  confer- 
ence of  captains  was  called  in  the  cabin  of  the  flag-ship,  and  each  received 
directions  as  to  his  course  of  action  during  the  fight.  They  were  urged 
to  force  the  fighting  to  close  quarters.  Said  Perry,  "  Nelson  has  expressed 
my  idea  in  the  words,  '  If  you  lay  your  enemy  alongside,  you  cannot  be 
out  of  your  place.' "  As  the  officers  were  about  to  depart,  Perry  drew 
from  a  locker  a  large,  square  blue  flag,  on  which  appeared,  in  white  letters, 
the  dying  words  of  the  gallant  Lawrence,  "Don't  give  up  the  ship!" 
"This,"  said  Perry,  "shall  be  the  signal  for  action;  and  when  it  appears 
at  the  masthead,  remember  your  instructions."  The  conference  then  ended ; 
and  the  captains  returned  to  their  ships  across  the  bay,  silvered  by  the 
light  of  the  moon,  to  spend  the  greater  part  of  the  night  in  preparations 
for  the  great  danger  of  the  coming  day. 

Morning  dawned  bright  and  clear,  with  a  light  breeze  blowing,  that 
broke  into  ripples  the  surface  of  the  land-locked  bay.  The  rosy  light  of 
the  rising  sun  was  just  reddening  the  eastern  horizon,  when,  from  the 
lookout  in  the  foretop  of  the  "  Lawrence,"  came  the  long-drawn  hail  of 
"SaiT,  ho?"  qufckly  rqTcated  from  the  other  vessels. 

Perry  was  already  on  deck.  "  What  does  it  look  like  ? "  he  shouted 
to  the  lookout. 

"A  clump  of  square  rigged,  and  fore  and  afters,  sir,"  was  the  response. 


m 


^u 


V' 


t1 


!     I 


i!1 


i 


'-   iii 


«nr 


9 ;« I 


II    I 


184 


r.i,ri:-i.\(Ki:i's  of  isi.^ 


Ill  ;i  few  niiniitcs  the  sii;nals  "  I'"ncmy  in  si;;ht,"  and  "(ict  under  way," 
were  flying  from  the  masthead  of  the  flag-sliip ;  and  th.e  merry  piping 
of  the  l)()atswain.s'  wliistles,  and  the  measinx'd  tramp  of  the  sailors  around 
the  capstans,  told  that  signals  were  observed,  and  were  being  obeyed. 

The  fleet  was  soon  threading  its  way  through  the  narrow  channels, 
tilled  with  islands,  at  the  entrance  to  the  bay,  and  finally  came  into  line 
on  the  open  lake.  Not  a  cloud  was  in  the  sky.  The  lake  was  calm, 
with  enough  wind  blowing  to  admit  of  manoeuvring,  yet  gentle  enough 
to  be  of  advantage  to  the  schooners  that  made  up  the  greater  part  of 
each  fleet. 

For  some  time  the  Americans  held  back,  manoeuvring  to  get  the 
weather-gauge  ;  but  Perry's  impatience  for  the  fray  got  the  better  of  his 
caution,  and  he  determined  to  close  at  once.  His  first  officer  remon- 
strated, saying,   "Then  you'll  have  to  engage  the  enemy  to  leeward." 

"  I  don't  care,"  responded  the  commodore.  "  Leeward  or  windward, 
they  shall  fight  to-day."  Then,  turning  to  the  quartermaster,  he  called 
for  the  battle-flag,  which  being  brought,  he  mustered  the  crew  aft,  and 
addressed  them  briefly,  telling  them  of  the  task  before  them,  and  urging 
them  to  fight  bravely  for  the  victory.  "  I\Iy  brave  lads,"  he  concluded, 
"this  flag  bears  the  last  words  of  Capt.  Lawrence.     Shall  I  hoist  it.?" 

"Ay,  ay,  sir!  "  cried  the  jackies,  in  unison  ;  and,  as  the  flag  was  swiftly 
run  to  the  masthead,  the  cheers  of  the  sailors  on  the  deck  of  the  "  Law- 
rence "  were  echoed  from  the  neighboring  vessels,  as  the  white  letters 
showed  boldly  against  the  blue  flag,  bearing  to  each  commander  the 
exhortation,  "  Don't  give  up  the  ship ! " 

The  battle-signal  being  thus  displayed,  the  vessels  moved  onward  to 
the  attack.  As  the  crew  of  the  "Lawrence"  stood  at  their  guns,  the 
cooks  passed  along  the  decks,  handing  to  each  man  a  bit  of  food,  that 
his  strength  might  not  leave  him  in  the  coming  struggle.  Then  followed 
boys  with  boxes  of  sand,  which  they  strewed  upon  the  decks,  to  afford 
a  firm  foothold  for  the  men  at  the  guns.  The  hammocks  were  stowed 
along  the  nettings,  to  serve  as  some  little  protection  against  flying  shot. 
The  men  stood  silent  and  pale  at  their  quarters,  each  occupied  with   his 


i'        i 


BEFORE  THE   BATTLE. 


n 


t         i! 


i,:  .!  !i! 


ft 


i 


:  \  ?f? 


i!i,L'i:-IACKi;rs  of  1812. 


iS: 


own  grave  thoughts,  but  all  dctorminecl  to  fight  like  brave  men  and  true 
for  the  honor  of  the  flag.  Hy  Perry's  side  stood  his  brother,  a  boy  thirteen 
years  old,  armed  and  ready  to  do  his  duty  as  well  as  the  older  men. 

The  Ikitish  came  on  gallantly,  liarclay  had  lost  all  his  diffidence, 
and  brought  up  his  vessels  like  a  veteran.  His  ships  were  kept  close 
together;  the  ship  "Detroit"  under  short  sail,  that  the  pygmy  sloop 
"  Little  Belt "  might  not  be  left  in  the  rear.  The  Americans  came  ilown 
in  single  file,  headed  by  the  schooner  "  Scorpion."  Suddenly  through 
the  still  air  rang  out  the  sharp  notes  of  a  bugle-cull  on  the  enemy's 
flag-ship.  It  was  the  signal  for  action  ;  and,  as  the  last  notes  died  away, 
the  bands  struck  up  "  Rule,  Britannia."  The  Americans  answered  with 
cheers;  and  in  the  midst  of  the  cheering,  a  jet  ■  :  smoke  and  fire  spurted 
from  the  side  of  the  "Detroit,"  and  a  heavy  shot  splashed  into  the  water 
near  the  "Lawrence,"  while  a  dull,  hcavj-  i  iport  came  looming  over  the 
water. 

The  battle  was  opened,  bu^  five  minutes  r^ipstd  before  a  second  shot 
was  fired.  When  it  did  come,  it  crashed  thnuigh  the  bulwarks  of  the 
"  Lawrence,"  and  sped  across  her  deck,  doing  no  great  damage.  "  Steady, 
lads,  steady,"  cried  Perry,  from  his  post  011  the  quarter-deck,  a;.,  lie  saw 
an  uneasy  stir  among  his  men,  who  longed  to  return  the  fire.  The  com- 
modore was  determined  to  fight  at  close  quarters,  and  hung  out  signals 
for  each  ship  to  choose  its  antagonist,  and  fight  the  fight  out  for  itself. 

It  was  then  high  noon,  and  the  battle  soon  became  general.  The  little 
schooners  "  Scorpion  "  and  "  Ariel  "  pluckily  kept  their  place  in  the  van 
of  the  American  line,  but  the  fire  of  the  enemy  fell  most  fiercely  upon 
the  flag-ship  "  Lawrence."  No  less  than  four  vessels  at  one  time  were 
grouped  about  the  "  Lawrence,"  pouring  in  a  destructive  fire,  and  bent 
upon  destoying  the  flag-ship  and  her  brave  commander ;  then  taking  the 
smaller  vessels  in  detail.  The  "  Lawrence  "  fought  bravely,  but  the  odds 
were  too  great.  The  carronades  with  which  she  was  armed  were  no 
match  for  the  long  guns  of  her  adversaries.  For  two  hours  the  unequal 
combat  raged,  and  no  American  vessel  came  to  the  aid  of  the  sorely 
smitten    flag-ship.      Amid    the    hail    of    cannon-balls   and    bullets,    Perry 


4 


n 


! 


I 


m^ 


i88 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


f 


1.!'' 


f     ■ 


seemed  to  bear  a  charmed  life.  He  saw  his  officers  and  men  falling  all 
about  him.  John  Brooks,  the  lieutenant  of  marines,  fought  by  the  com- 
modore's side.  While  speak- 
ing cheerfully  to  the  commo- 
dore, a  cannon-ball  str"ck  the 
young  lieutenant  on  the  hip, 
dashing  him  across  the  deck 
against  the  bulwark,  and 
mutilating  him  so,  that  he 
plead  piteously  with  Perry, 
imploring  that  he  might  be 
put  out  of  his  misery  with  a 
pistol-shot.  From  this  awful 
spectacle  Perry  turned  to 
speak  to  the  captain  of  a 
gun,  when  the  conversation 
was  abruptly  cut  short  by  a 
shot  which  killed  the  seaman 
instantly.  Perry  i-eturned  to 
the  quarter-deck.  The  first 
lieutenant  came  rushing  up, 
his  face  bloody,  and  his  nose 
swelled  to  an  enormous  size, 
from  a  splinter  which  had  per- 
forated it.  "  All  the  officers 
in  my  division  are  killed," 
he  cried.  "  For  God's  sake, 
give  me  more  !  "  Perry  sent 
some  men  to  his  aid ;  but 
they  soon  fell,  and  the  cry 
for  more  men  arose  again.  One  of  the  surgeons  who  served  in  the  cock- 
pit on  that  dreadful  day  states,  that,  in  the  midst  of  the  roar  of  battle. 
Perry's    voice    was    heard    calling    down    the   hatchway,    and   asking   any 


COMMODORE  PERRY  AT  THE  BATTLE  OF  LAKE  ERIE. 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


189 


surgeons'  mates  who  could  be  spared,  to  come  on  deck  and  help  work 
the  guns.  Several  went  up ;  but  the  appeal  was  soon  repeated,  and  more 
responded.  When  no  more  men  could  be  obtained,  the  voice  of  the 
commodore  took  a  pleading  tone.  "  Can  any  of  the  wounded  pull  a 
rope.'"  said  he;  and  such  was  his  ascendency  over  the  men,  that  several 
poor  mangled  fellows  dragged  themselves  on  deck,  and  lent  their  feeble 
strength  to  the  working  of  the  guns. 

Amid  all  the  carnage,  the  sailors  were  quick  to  notice  the  lighter 
incidents  of  the  fray.  Even  the  cock-pit,  filled  with  the  wounded,  and 
reeking  with  blood  that  dripped  through  the  cracks  in  the  deck  above, 
once  resounded  with  laughter  as  hearty  as  ever  greatcd  a  middy's  after- 
dinner  joke  in  the  steerage.  Lieut.  Yarnall  received  a  bad  scalp-wound, 
which  fairly  drenched  his  face  with  blood.  As  he  groped  his  way  towards 
the  cock-pit,  he  passed  a  lot  of  hammocks  stuffed  with  "cat-tails"  which 
had  been  stowed  on  the  bulwarks.  The  feathery  down  of  the  "  cat- 
tails "  filled  the  air,  and  settled  thick  upon  the  head  and  face  of  the 
officer,  robbing  his  countenance  of  all  semblance  to  a  human  face.  As 
he  descended  the  ladder  to  the  cock-pit,  his  owl-like  air  roused  the 
wounded  to  great  shouts  of  laughter.  "The  Devil  has  come  among  us," 
they  cried. 

While  talking  to  his  little  brother,  Perry  to  his  horror  saw  the  lad 
fall  at  his  feet,  dashed  to  the  deck  by  an  unseen  missile.  The  com- 
modore's agony  may  be  imagined  ;  but  it  was  soon  assuaged,  for  the  boy 
was  only  stunned,  and  was  soon  fighting  again  at  his  post.  The  second 
lieutenant  was  struck  by  a  spent  grape-shot,  and  fell  stunned  upon  the 
deck.  He  lay  there  for  a  time,  unnoticf^d.  Perry  raised  him  up,  telling 
him  he  was  not  hurt,  as  no  blood  could  be  seen.  The  lieutenant  put  his 
hand  to  his  clothing,  at  the  point  where  the  blow  had  fallen,  and  dis- 
covered the  shot  lodged  in  his  coat.  Coolly  putting  it  in  his  pocket,  he 
remarked,  "You  are  right:  I  am  not  hurt.  But  this  is  my  shot,"  and 
forthwith  returned  to  his  duty. 

It  was  a  strange-looking  body  of  men  that  fought  at  the  guns  of  the 
"Lawrence."     Lean,  angular  Yankee   sailors  from   the   seafaring   commu- 


'.  9  ' 


! 


n 


I         ! 


190 


blue-jackp:ts  of  1812. 


0  'i 


nities  of  New  ICngland  stood  by  the  side  of  swarthy  negroes,  who,  with 
their  half-naked  black,  bodies,  in  the  dense  powder-smoke,  seemed  like 
fiends  in  pandemonium.  In  the  rigging  were  stationed  a  number  of  Ken- 
tucky riflemen,  who  had  volunteered  to  serve  during  the  battle.  The 
buckskin  shirts  and  leggings  gave  an  air  of  incongruity  to  their  presence 
on  a  man-of-war.  Their  unerring  rifles,  however,  did  brave  service  for 
the  cause  of  the  stars  and  stripes.  At  the  opening  of  the  action,  two 
tall  Indians,  decked  in  all  the  savage  finery  of  war-paint  and  feathers, 
strode  the  deck  proudly.  But  water  is  not  the  Indian's  element,  and  the 
battle  had  hardly  begun  when  one  fled  below  in  terror ;  the  other  remained 
on  deck,  and  was  killed  early  in  the  action. 

Courageous  and  self-confident  though  the  American  commander  was, 
the  moment  came  when  he  could  no  longer  disguise  the  fact  that  his 
gallant  flag-ship  was  doomed  to  destruction  before  the  continuous  and 
deadly  fire  of  her  adversaries.  There  was  but  one  course  of  action  open, 
and  upon  this  he  determined  at  once.  He  would  transfer  his  flag  to  the 
"Niagara,"  and  from  the  deck  of  that  vessel  direct  the  movements  of 
his  fleet.  Accordingly,  the  only  uninjured  boat  of  the  "Lawrence"  was 
lowered  ;  and  Perry  sprang  into  the  stern,  followed  by  his  little  brother. 
Before  the  boat  pushed  off,  the  battle-flag  was  thrown  into  her ;  and, 
wrapping  it  about  him.  Perry  took  a  standing  position  in  the  stern,  and 
ordered  the  oarsmen  to  give  way.  He  steered  straight  for  the  "  Niagara," 
through  the  very  centre  of  the  fight.  The  enemy  quicky  grasped  the 
purpose  of  the  movement,  and  great  guns  and  muskets  were  trained  on 
the  little  boat.  Shot  of  all  sizes  splashed  in  the  water  about  the  boat, 
splintered  the  oars,  and  buried  themselves  in  the  gunwale.  The  crew 
begged  their  commander  to  sit  down,  and  make  himself  a  less  conspicu- 
ous target  for  the  fire  of  the  enemy ;  but  Perry  paid  but  little  attention 
to  their  entreaties.  Suddenly  the  men  rested  on  the  oars,  and  the  boat 
stopped.  Angrily  the  commodore  demanded  the  cause  of  the  stoppage, 
and  was  told  that  the  men  refused  to  row  unless  he  sat  down.  With  a 
smile  he  yielded,  and  soon  the  boat  was  alongside  the  "Niagara."  Perry 
sprang  to  the  deck,  followed  by  his  boat's  crew  and  a  plucky  sailor  who 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


191 


had  swum  just  behind  the  boat  across  the  long  stretch  of  water.  Hardly 
a  glance  did  the  commodore  cast  at  the  ship  which  he  had  left,  but  bent 
all  his  faculties  to  taking  the  new  flag-ship  into  the  battle. 


1L-r^^^ 


■.^r'ii'iS 


/r 


"\ 


M  M  d  i\   Mi^  *: 


m  m  W  m 


MAKING   READY  TO   LEAVE  THE  "LAWRENCE." 


The  "  Niagara  "  was  practically  a  fresh  ship ;  for,  up  to  this  time,  she 
had  held  strangely  aloof  from  the  battle.  Now  all  was  to  be  changed. 
The  battle-flag  went  to  her  masthead  ;  and  she  plunged  into  the  thick  of 
the  fight,  striking  thunderous  blows  at  every  ship   she   encountered.     As 


*i     ,  f 


I 


'  i  ' 


M 


H 


li-il;      ^     I 


192 


BLUE-JACKI'TS  OF    181 2. 


she  passed  the  Ameriean  lines,  the  sailors  greeted  with  cheers  their 
gallant  commander.  The  crippled  "  Lawrence,"  an  almost  helpless  hulk, 
left  far  behind,  was  forced  to  strike  her  flag  ;  although  her  crew  protested 
loudly,  crying  out,  "Sink  the  ship,  and  let  us  go  down  with  her."  liut 
the  conquered  vessel  was  not  destined  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  her 
enemies.  Already  the  sight  of  their  commodore  on  a  fresh  vessel  stimu- 
lated the  American  tars ;  so  that  in  half  an  hour  the  l^ritish  line  was 
broken,  their  ships  cut  to  pieces,  and  the  "Detroit,"  their  flag-ship,  a  prize 
to  the  "Niagara."  A  white  handkerchief  was  waved  at  the  end  of  a  pike 
by  one  of  the  crew  of  the  "Princess  Charlotte."  The  firing  sto])ped,  the 
flag  was  again  run  up  to  the  masthead  of  the  "  Lawrence,"  while  a  few 
feeble  cheers  came  faintly  over  the  water  from  the  remnant  of  her  crew. 

The  dense  clouds  of  smoke  blowing  away.  Perry  saw,  by  the  disposi- 
tion of  his  squadron,  that  the  victory  was  secure.  Hastily  catching  off 
his  navy-cap,  he  laid  upon  it  a  sheet  of  paper  torn  from  an  old  letter, 
and  wrote  to  (ien.  Harrison  the  famous  despatch,  "  U'c  have  uict  the  riu-iiiy, 
ami  they  are  ours,  —  ttco  ships,  tivo  brigs,  one  scJiooncr,  and  one  sloop. 

Then,  with  true  chivalry,  he  determined  that  to  his  flag-ship  "Law- 
rence," that  had  so  stoutly  borne  the  brunt  of  battle,  should  belong  the 
honor  of  receiving  the  British  captains,  when  they  came  to  surrender 
their  vessels.  He  returned  to  the  "  Lawrence ; "  but  the  scene  there 
was  such  that  even  the  excitement  of  victory  could  raise  no  feelings  of 
exultation  in  his  breast.  He  saw  on  every  side  the  bodies  of  officers 
with  whom,  but  the  night  before,  he  had  dined  in  perfect  health.  The 
decks  were  red  with  blood,  and  from  the  cock-pit  arose  the  groans  of  the 
wounded. 

After  the  formal  surrender,  to  make  which  the  officers  picked  their 
way  over  the  deck  covered  with  slain  to  the  quarter-deck,  the  work  of 
burying  the  dead  of  both  squadrons  was  begun.  It  was  about  sundown 
that  the  sad  ceremonies  were  held  ;  and,  as  the  deep  tones  of  the  chap- 
lains reading  the  burial-service  arose  upon  the  evening  air,  the  dull, 
mournful  splashing  of  heavy  bodies  in  the  water  told  that  the  last  scene 
in  the  great  victory  was  drawing  to  an  end. 


■  *•!  '■!'  "".jw.'''w>  .^aaw.Hjij'!' ;  '■>^-  ''>**•'' 


v.:  ■.■ 


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PERRY  UNDER   FIRE. 


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CHAPTER   VIII. 

ox  THE  OCEAN. —  THE  "HORNET"  SINKS  THE  "  PE.ACOCK."  —  THE  BI.OCK.ADE.  —  .ADVEN- 
TURES OF  TH E"  SALLY."  — HOSTILiriES  ON  CHESAPEAKE  BAY. —  THE  CRUISE  OF  THE 
"  PRESIDENT." 

HE  year  1813,  that  brought  to  American  sailors  upon  the  lakes 
such  well-earned  laurels,  opened  auspiciously  for  the  stars  and 
stripes  upon  the  ocean.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  "Con- 
stitution," while  on  the  cruise  in  the  South  Atlantic  that  ended 
with  the  destruction  of  the  "Java,"  had  left  the  "  Hornet "  off  San  Salvador, 
blockading  the  British  ship  "Bonne  Citoycnne."  For  eighteen  days  the 
"  Hornet  "  remained  at  her  post.  Her  captain  continually  urged  the  enemy 
to  come  out  and  give  him  battle,  but  to  no  avail.  The  remembrance  of 
his  valuable  cargo  deterred  the  Englishman,  and  he  remained  snug  in 
his  harbor.  Months  after,  when  the  occurrence  becanie  known  in  the 
United  States,  an  unreasoning  outcry  was  raised  against  the  commander 
of  the  "Bonne  Citoyenne  "  for  thus  avoiding  the  conflict;  but  naval  men 
have  always  agreed  that  his  action  was  wise  and  commendable. 

After  eighteen  days'  service  on  this  blockade,  the  "  Hornet "  .saw  a 
British  seventy-four  bearing  down  upon  her,  bent  upon  releasing  the 
treasure-ship.     Against   such  odds   it  would   have   been   folly  to  contend  ; 


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196 


BLUK-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


and  the  Americans,  taking  advantage  of  a  dark  night,  slipped  away,  and 
were  soon  beyond  pursuit.  The  vessel  continued  her  cruise  in  the  waters 
south  of  the  equator,  meeting  with  good  fortune,  and  taking  many  valuable 
prizes,  from  one  of  which  twenty-three  thousand  dollars  in  specie  were 
taken.  But  her  cruise  was  not  destined  to  proceed  without  serious 
opposition. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  as  the  "  Hornet  "  was  giving  close  chase  to 
a  suspicious  brig  near  the  mouth  of  the  Demarara  River,  a  second  stranger 
was  sighted  in  the  offing.  Giving  no  heed  to  the  newly  sighted  vessel, 
the  "  Hornet "  continued  her  chase  until  the  rapidly  approaching  vessel 
was  clearly  made  out  to  be  a  brig,  flying  the  British  flag,  and  evidently 
a  man-of-war.  The  "  Hornet "  was  immediately  cleared  for  action ;  and 
the  two  hostile  vessels  began  manoeuvring  for  the  weather-gage,  as  two 
scientific  pugilists  spar  cautiously  for  an  opening.  In  this  contest  of  sea- 
manship, Capt.  Lawrence  of  the  "  Hornet "  proved  the  victor ;  and  a  little 
after  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  two  enemies  stood  for  each  other 
upon  the  wind,  the  "  Hornet "  having  the  weather-gage.  As  they  rapidly 
neared  each  other,  no  sound  was  licard  save  the  creaking  of  the  cordage, 
and  the  dashing  of  the  waves  against  the  vessels'  hulls.  Not  a  shot  was 
fired  until  the  enemies  were  dashing  past  each  other,  going  in  opposite 
directions.  The  first  broadsides  were  exchanged  at  half  pistol-shot,  with 
very  unequal  effects.  The  shot  of  the  "  Hornet  "  penetrated  the  hull  of 
her  antagonist,  doing  terrible  execution ;  while  the  broadside  let  fly  by 
the  "  Peacock "  whistled  through  the  rigging  of  the  American  ship,  cut- 
ting away  the  pennant,  and  killing  a  topman,  who  was  struck  by  a  round 
shot,  and  dashed  from  his  station  in  the  mizzen-top,  to  fall  mangled  and 
lifeless  into  the  sea. 

Hardly  were  the  ships  clear,  when  the  British  captain  put  his  helm 
hard  up,  —  a  manoeuvre  executed  with  the  intention  of  securing  a  raking 
position.  But  the  plan  was  balked  by  the  cool  seamanship  of  Capt. 
Lawrence,  who  quickly  followed  up  the  British  vessel,  and,  getting  a  posi- 
tion on  his  quarter,  poured  in  so  rapid  and  accurate  a  fire  that  the  enemy 
was  fain  to  haul  down  his  colors  and  confess  defeat.     The  British  ensign 


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BLUE-JACKKTS  OF    1812. 


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had  hardly  touched  the  deck,  when  it  was  run  up  again,  with  the  union 
down,  as  a  token  of  distress.  At  this  sight,  the  Yankee  tars,  who  had 
been  cheering  lustily  over  their  quickly  won  victory,  stopped  their  rejoi- 
cings, and  set  about  giving  assistance  to  the  injured  Britons  with  as  hearty 
good-will  as  they  had  lately  shown  in  their  vigorous  cannonade. 

With  all  possible  despatch,  a  boat  was  lowered,  and  Lieut.  Shubrick 
proceeded  on  board  the  prize.  He  found  the  "  Peacock "  a  complete 
wreck.  Shortly  after  the  surrender  her  main-mast  had  gone  by  the  board, 
and  her  hull  was  fairly  honeycombed  with  shot-holes.  Returning  to  his 
ship,  Shubrick  reported  the  condition  of  the  prize.  He  was  immediately 
ordered  to  return  to  the  "  Peacock,"  and  make  every  effort  to  save  her. 
Accompanied  by  three  boats'  crews  of  American  sailors,  he  again  boarded 
the  sinking  ship,  and  bent  every  energy  to  the  attempt  for  her  salvation. 
Bulwarks  were  cut  away,  and  the  heavy  guns  were  rolled  out  of  the  gaps 
thus  made,  and  cast  into  the  sea.  Deep  down  in  the  hold,  and  swinging 
like  spiders  over  the  sides  of  the  vessels,  sailors  tried  to  stop  up  with 
felt-covered  blocks  of  wood  the  great  holes  through  which  the  water  was 
pouring.  All  the  time  boats  were  plying  between  the  sinking  vessel  and 
the  "  Hornet,"  transferring  the  wounded  and  the  prisoners.  Twilight  fell 
before  the  work  was  ended,  and  it  became  evident  to  all  that  the  "  Pea- 
cock "  must  sink  during  the  night.  But  the  end  came  even  quicker  than 
had  been  expected.  Some  new  rent  must  have  opened  in  the  brig's  side  ; 
for,  with  a  sudden  lurch,  she  commenced  to  sink  rapidly,  bow  foremost. 
Several  of  the  English  crew  were  below,  searching  for  liquor ;  and,  caught 
by  the  inpouring  flood,  they  found  a  watery  grave  in  the  sinking  hulk. 
Three  Americans  were  also  ingulfed  ;  and  five  narrowly  escaped  death  by 
climbing  up  the  rigging  to  the  foretop,  which  remained  above  water  when 
the  hull  rested  upon  the  bottom.  In  the  midst  of  the  excitement  and 
confusion,  four  British  seamen  slyly  clambered  out  of  the  cabin-windows, 
and,  dropping  into  a  boat  that  was  made  fast  to  the  stern,  made  off  in 
the  darkness.  The  Americans,  eagerly  watching  the  sinking  ship,  did 
not  detect  the  fugitives  until  the  boat  was  far  beyond  the  possibility  of 
recapture. 


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BLUE-JACKETS  OF   181 2. 


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The  vessel  so  quickly  destroyed  by  the  "  Hornet "  was  the  British 
man-of-war  brig  "  Peacock,"  mounting  ten  guns,  and  carrying  a  crew  of 
two  hundred  and  ten  men.  In  one  respect,  she  was  a  model  ship. 
Among  naval  men,  she  had  long  been  known  as  "  the  yacht,"  on  account 
of  the  appearance  of  exquisite  neatness  she  always  presented.  Her  decks 
were  as  white  as  lime-juice  and  constant  holystoning  could  keep  them. 
The  brass-work  about  the  cabins  and  the  breeches  of  the  guns  was 
dazzling  in  its  brilliancy.  White  canvas  lined  the  breechings  of  the 
carronades.  Her  decks  everywhere  showed  signs  of  constant  toil  in 
the  cause  of  cleanliness.  The  result  of  the  battle,  however,  seemed  to 
indicate  that  Capt.  Peakes  had  erred,  in  that,  while  his  ship  was  perfect, 
his  men  were  bad  marksmen,  and  poorly  disciplined.  While  their  shot 
were  harmlessly  passing  through  the  rigging  of  the  "  Hornet,"  the 
Americans  were  pouring  in  well-directed  broadsides,  that  killed  and 
wounded  thirty-eight  men,  and  ended  the  action  in  fifteen  minutes.  The 
Americans  lost  but  one  man  in  the  fight,  though  three  more  went  down 
in  the  sinking  prize. 

Capt.  Lawrence  now  found  himself  far  from  home,  short  of  water,  and 
crowded  with  prisoners.  For  a  time,  he  feared  that  to  these  evils  was 
to  be  added  a  second  action,  while  his  crew  was  still  fatigued  with  the 
labors  of  the  first.  During  the  battle  with  the  "Peacock,"  a  second 
British  man-of-war  brig,  the  "  Espi^gle,"  lay  quietly  at  anchor  only  four 
miles  away.  Why  she  had  not  joined  in  the  strife,  has  never  been 
explained.  She  was  clearly  visible  from  the  tops  of  the  "  Hornet " 
throughout  the  action,  and  Lawrence  expected  every  moment  to  see  her 
bear  down  to  the  assistance  of  her  consort.  But  she  made  no  move- 
ment ;  and  even  after  the  fight  ended,  and  the  "  Peacock "  lay  on  the 
bottom  of  the  ocean,  the  mysterious  stranger  awoke  not  from  her  leth- 
argy. Not  wishing  to  engage  a  second  adversary  while  his  ship  was 
crowded  with  prisoners,  Lawrence  immediately  left  the  scene  of  action, 
and  laid  his  course  for  home.  The  homeward  voyage  was  rapid  and 
uneventful.  No  pains  were  spared  to  secure  the  comfort  of  the  prisoners 
who  crowded  the  ship.     The  British  officers  were  treated  with  the  great- 


lUX'i:-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


199 


est  consideration;  so  that,  as  one  said  on  quitting  the  ship,  they  "ceased 
to  consider  themselves  as  captives."  The  tars,  who  were  consigned  to 
the  care  of  the  blue-jackets  in  the  forecastle,  were  met  with  less  cour- 
tesy, but  certainly  with  no  less  good  feeling.  They  were  not  spared  an 
occasional  taunt  or  triumphant  joke ;  but  when  it  was  learned  that  by 
the  sinking  of  their  ship  the  Britons  had  lost  all  their  "toggery,"  the 
"  Hornet's "  lads  turned  to,  and  soon  collected  clothing  enough  to  fit  out 
each  prisoner  with  a  respectable  kit. 

It  was  the  middle  of  March  before  the  long,  homeward  voyage  was 
ended,  and  the  anchor  was  dropped  in  the  snug  harbor  of  Holmes's 
Hole  in  the  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard.  The  usual  rejoicings  followed 
the  news  of  the  victory.  Lawrence  was  the  hero  of  the  hour ;  and  songs 
innumerable  appeared  in  the  newspapers,  extolling  the  courage  and  devo- 
tion of  the  brave  lads  of  the  "  Hornet." 

Indeed,  the  arrival  of  the  "  Hornet  "  with  her  glorious  news  came  at 
an  opportune  moment,  to  cheer  the  spirits  of  the  American  people.  The 
war  had  begun  to  assume  a  serious  aspect.  Continued  reverses  on 
the  ocean  had  roused  the  British  ministry  to  the  fact  that  they  were 
dealing  with  no  contemptible  enemy,  and  the  word  had  gone  forth  that 
the  Americans  must  be  crushed  into  submission.  Troops  were  hurriedly 
sent  to  Canada,  and  all  the  vessels  that  could  be  spared  were  ordered  to 
the  coast  of  the  United  States.  The  English  had  determined  upon  that 
most  effective  of  all  hostile  measures,  —  a  rigorous  blockade  of  their 
enemy's  coast.  Up  and  down  the  coast  from  New  Jersey  to  the  Caro- 
linas,  British  frigates  and  sloops  kept  up  a  constant  patrol.  Chesapeake 
Bay  was  their  chief  rendezvous ;  and  the  exploits  of  the  blockading  squad- 
ron stationed  there,  under  Admiral  Cockburn,  led  often  to  scenes  more 
befitting  savage  warfare  then  the  hostilities  of  two  enlightened  and 
civilized  peoples.  On  the  New  England  coast,  the  blockade  was  less 
severely  enforced.  The  people  of  that  section  had  been  loud  in  their 
denunciations  of  the  war;  and  the  British  hoped,  by  a  display  of  modera- 
tion, to  seduce  the  New  Englanders  from  their  allegiance  to  the  United 
States, — a  hope  that  failed  utterly  of  fulfilment.     Even  had   the   British 


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200 


BLUE-JACKK'IS   OK    1812. 


(U'siretl  to  enforce  the  l)lockacle  along  the  New  ICnj^dand  shore,  the  char- 
acter of  the  coast,  and  the  skill  and  shrewdness  of  the  Yankee  skippers, 
would  have  made  the  task  of  the  blockaders  a  most  difificult  one. 

The  annals  of  the  little  seafaring  villages  along  the  'coast  of  Maine  and 
Massachusetts  abound  in  anecdotes  of  hardy  skippers  who  outwitted  the 
watchful  British,  and  ran  their  little  schooners  or  sloops  into  port  under 
the  very  guns  of  a  blockading  man-of-war. 

Among  the  blockade-runners  of  the  New  England  coast,  Capt.  Dan 
Fernald  of  Portsmouth  stood  foremost.  When  a  shipload  of  Maine  timber 
was  needed  at  the  Portsmouth  navy-yard,  to  be  converted  into  a  new 
man-of-war,  to  Capt.  Fcrnald  was  assigned  the  task  of  bringing  it  down 
from  Portland  past  the  British  frigates,  that  were  ever  on  the  watch  for 
just  such  caigoes.  When  the  preparations  for  the  building  of  the  seventy- 
four-gun  ship  "  Washington  "  were  making  at  the  navy-yard,  Capt.  Fernald 
was  sent  to  Portsmouth  for  a  load  of  ship's-timber.  His  cargo  was  to 
consist  of  forty-eight  "knees"  and  the  breast-hook  of  the  seventy-four. 
Loaded  down  with  this  burden,  the  schooner  "Sally"  left  Portland,  and 
headed  for  her  destination.  Caution  led  her  captain  to  keep  his  craft 
close  to  the  shore,  and  for  a  day  or  two  she  crept  along  the  coast  with- 
out being  discovered.  But  head-winds  and  calms  delayed  the  "  Sally," 
and  on  her  fourth  day  out  she  was  sighted  by  the  British  frigate  "  Tene- 
dos."  The  "Sally"  was  not  an  imposing  craft,  and  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances she  might  have  been  allowed  to  proceed  unmolested  ;  but  on 
this  occasion  a  number  of  the  oaken  knees  for  the  new  war-vessel  were 
piled  on  the  deck,  and  the  British  captain  could  clearly  make  out,  through, 
his  glasses,  that  the  "  Sally  "  was  laden  with  contraband  of  war.  Accord- 
ingly, he  set  out  in  hot  pursuit,  in  the  full  expectation  of  overhauling  the 
audacious  coaster.  Capt.  Fernald,  however,  had  no  idea  of  letting  his 
schooner  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  British.  He  was  a  wily  old  sk'pper, 
and  knew  every  nook  and  corner  of  the  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  coasts 
better  than  he  knew  the  streets  of  his  native  village.  Apparently  unmoved 
by  the  pursuit  of  the  man-of-war,  he  stood  at  the  tiller,  and,  beyond  order- 
ing his  crew  to  shake  out  the  reefs  in  the  sails,  seemed  to  make  no  great 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


!01 


attempt  to  elude  the  enemy.  But  soon  the  crew  noticed  that  the  skipiier 
was  taking  his  schooner  rather  dangerously  close  to  the  shore ;  and  a  cry 
came  from  a  sailor  on  the  bow,  that  the  "Sal'y"  was  ploughing  through 
the  kelp,  and  would  soon  be  on  the  rocks. 

"No  matter,"  sung  out  the  captain;  "just  heave  over  a  few  of  them 
knees,  and  I  guess  she'll  float  clear." 

Overboard  went  a  dozen  heavy  timbers,  and  the  "  Sally  "  sailed  smoothly 
on  over  the  rocks.  Then  the  captain  glanced  back  over  his  shoulder, 
and  chuckled  slyly  as  the  majestic  frigate,  following  closely  in  his  track, 
brought  up  all  of  a  sudden  on  the  rocks,  and  was  quickly  left  a  fi.xturc 
by  the  receding  tide.  The  exasperated  Englishman  sent  two  eighteen- 
pound  shot  skipping  over  the  water  after  the  "  Sally,"  but  without  effect. 
One  sh"f.  buried  itself  in  the  sand  of  the  beach  ;  and  Capt.  Fernald,  after 
picking  up  the  knees  that  had  been  thrown  overboard,  coolly  went  ashore, 
dug  up  the  ball,  and  carried  it  away  as  a  trophy.  He  reached  his  moor- 
ings at  the  navy-yard  safely,  and  was  warmly  greeted  by  Commodore 
Hull,  who  asked  if  the  "Sally"  had  been  fired  upon;  and,  on  being 
presented  with  the  eighteen-pound  shot  for  a  token,  exclaimed,  "  You  are 
a  good  fellow,  and  stand  fire  well." 

The  "  Tenedos "  came  not  so  luckily  out  of  the  adventure.  By  the 
time  i.  flood-tide  lifted  her  clear  of  the  reef,  the  jagged  points  of  the 
rocks  had  pierced  her  hull,  so  that  she  leaked  badly,  and  was  forced  to 
go  to  Halifax  for  repairs. 

One  more  adventure  in  which  the  "  Sally "  and  her  wily  captain 
figured  is  worth  recounting.  Again  the  dingy  schooner  was  edging  her 
way  along  the  rugged  shore,  bound  for  the  Portsmouth  navy-yard.  No 
vessel  could  have  seemed  more  harmless.  Her  patched  and  dirty  canvas 
was  held  in  place  by  oft-spliced  ropes  and  rigging  none  too  taut.  Her 
bluff  bows  butted  away  the  waves  in  clouds  of  spray,  that  dashed  over  the 
decks,  which  seldom  received  other  washing.  Her  cargo  seemed  to  be 
cordwood,  neatly  split,  and  piled  high  on  deck.  While  off  Casco,  the 
wind  dropped  down,  and  the  "  Sally  "  was  left  floating  idly  upon  the  glassy 
ocean.     Far  in   the  distance   lay  an   English   man-o'-war,  also   becalmed  ; 


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202 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


but  from  which  a  long-boat,  stoutly  manned,  soon  put  out,  and  made  for 
the  becalmed  schooner.  The  boat  was  soon  within  hail,  and  a  trim  young 
officer  in  the  stern-sheets  sung  out,  — 

"What  craft's  that?" 

"  Schooner  '  Sally '  of  Portsmouth,"  came  the  answer,  in  the  drawling 
tones  of  a  down-east  skij^jper. 

"Where  from?" 

"Portland." 

"Where  bound?" 

"Portsmouth." 

"  What's  your  cargo." 

"  PMrewood,"  responded  Capt.  Fernald  with  a  carelessness  he  was 
far  from  feeling ;  for  deep  down  in  the  hold,  under  the  cord-wood,  were 
two  twcnty-four-pounder  cannon,  thirteen  thousand  pounds  of  powder, 
and  about  one  hundred  boarding  pikes  and  cutlasses. 

The  British  officer  hesitated  a  moment,  as  if  the  littK^  coaster  was  of 
too  little  importance  for  further  examination. 

"Well,  I  think  I'll  come  aboard,"  said  he  ca;relessly,  and  soon  stood 
with  three  or  four  of  his  men  on  the  deck  of  the  "Sally." 

After  glancing  contemptuously  about  the  ill-kept  decks,  he  turned  to 
his  men  with  the  sharp  order:  "Clear  away  some  of  that  wood  from 
the  hatchways,  and  see  what's  in  the  hold." 

The  men  set  to  work,  passing  the  cord-wood  away  from  the  hatch- 
ways, and  piling  it  upon  the  after-deck.  Soon  they  had  worked  their 
way  into  the  hold,  and  were  going  deeper  and  deeper  down  toward  the 
munitions  of  war.  Capt.  Fcrnald's  blood  seemed  to  stop  coursing  in  his 
veins.  He  knew  that  but  one  layer  of  cord-wood  then  lay  above  the 
cannon,  and  he  expected  every  instant  to  see  the  black  iron  uncovered. 
But  the  British  officer  grew  impatient. 

"That's  enough  of  that  work,"  said  he;  "there's  nothing  but  wood 
there.     Captain,  you  can  proceed  on  your  course." 

A  momentary  murmur  arose  from  the  English  sailors.  The  "Sally" 
was    theirs   by  right   of  capture,  and   they  saw  no   reason   for  her  libera- 


'' 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


203 


, 


tion.  "Why,  lads,"  said  the  officer,  "it  would  cost  just  as  much  to 
get  this  poor  fellow's  wood-schooner  condemned  as  it  would  a  large 
ship.  As  for  the  prize-money,  it  would  not  make  a  penny  apiece."  So, 
tumbling  into  their  boat,  the  jackies  pulled  away ;  shouting  to  the  captain 
of  the  "  Sally "  to  stow  his  cargo  again,  or  his  old  tub  would  capsize. 
Capt.  Fernald  took  their  jeers  good-naturedly,  for  he  was  the  victor  in 
that  encounter. 

The  occurrence  had  been  observed  frcin  the  shore  ;  and,  when  the 
British  sailors  were  seen  swarming  over  the  side  of  the  "  Sally,"  a  horse- 
man set  off  for  Portsmouth  to  notify  Commodore  Hull  that  the  schooner 
was  captured.  It  was  a  sore  blow  ;  for  the  guns  and  powder  were 
thought  to  be  lost,  and  munitions  of  war  were  hard  to  be  had  at  that 
time.  But  Hull  soon  threw  aside  the  disappointment,  and  was  busily 
engaged  with  plans  for  the  vessels  then  building,  when  a  sentry  came  in, 
and  reported  the  "  Sally  "  in  sight.  Hull  rushed  to  the  water-side.  Sure 
enough,  there  came  the  battered  old  schooner,  butting  her  way  through 
the  waves  of  the  channel ;  and,  before  long,  the  two  cannon  were  safe 
in  the  storehouses,  while  Capt.  Fernald.  found  himself  vested  with  a 
reputation  for  almost  superhuman  sagacity  and  luck. 

Not  all  the  encounters  between  the  blockaders  and  the  blockade- 
runners  terminated  so  happily  for  the  Americans.  Many  a  coasting- 
vessel  was  sent  to  Halifax  to  swell  the  coffers  of  the  British  prize-courts, 
or,  after  being  set  on  fire,  was  left  to  lie  charred  and  ruined  upon  the 
rocky  shore,  as  a  warning  to  all  who  violated  the  blockade. 

The  captuie  of  one  United  State.'-  war-vessel  graced  the  English 
naval  nnnals  of  January,  1813;  for  the  little  brig  "Viper,"  carrying 
twelve  guns,  feil  in  the  way  of  the  British,  thirty-two,  "Narcissus,"  and 
straightway  surrendered  to  the  overwhelming  force  of  her  enemy. 

Among  the  United  States  war-ves«els  caught  and  held  in  port  by  the 
blockade  was  the  frigate  "Constellation."  She  was  at  the  opening  of 
the  war  the  favorite  ship  of  the  American  navy ;  her  exploits  in  the  war 
with  France  having  endeared  her  to  the  American  people,  and  won  for 
her  amone:  Frenchmen  the  name  of  "the  Yankee   race-horse."     Notwith- 


ilil 


im 


!      : 


.  (i 


k    M 


204 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


standing  her  reputation  for  speed,  she  is  said  to  have  been  very  crank, 
and  had  an  awkward  way  of  getting  on  her  beam-ends  without  much 
provocation.  An  almost  incredible  tale  is  told  of  her  getting  "knocked 
down  "  by  a  squall  while  chasing  a  French  privateer,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  delay,  finally  overhauling  and  capturing  the  chase. 

When  war  was  declared  with  England,  the  "  Constellation "  was  so 
thoroughly  dismantled,  that  some  months  were  occupied  in  refitting  before 
she  was  ready  to  put  to  sea.  In  January,  181 3,  she  dropped  anchor  in 
Hampton  Roads,  expecting  to  set  out  on  an  extended  cruise  the  next 
morning.  Had  she  been  a  day  earlier,  her  career  in  the  War  of  1812 
might  have  added  new  lustre  to  her  glorious  record  in  the  war  with 
F" ranee ;  but  the  lack  of  that  day  condemned  her  to  inglorious  inactivity 
throughout  the  war :  for  on  that  very  night  a  British  squadron  of  line- 
of-battle  ships  and  frigates  dropped  anchor  a  few  miles  down  the  bay, 
and  the  "  Constellation "  was  fairly  trapped. 

When,  by  the  gray  light  of  early  morning,  the  lookout  on  the  "  Con- 
stellation "  saw  the  British  fleet  lying  quietly  at  their  anchorage  down 
the  bay,  he  reported  to  Capt.  Stewart ;  and  the  latter  saw  that,  for  a 
time,  he  must  be  content  to  remain  in  port.  Stewart's  reputation  for 
bravery  and  devotion  to  his  country  leaves  no  doubt  that  the  prospect 
of  prolonged  idleness  was  most  distasteful  to  him.  But  he  had  little  time 
to  mourn  over  his  disappointment.  The  position  of  the  frigate  was  one 
of  great  danger.  At  any  moment  she  might  be  exposed  to  attack  by  the 
hostile  fleet.  Accordingly,  she  dropped  down  abreast  of  Craney  Island, 
where  she  was  secure  from  attack  by  the  British  vessels,  but  still  open 
to  the  assaults  of  their  boats. 

To  meet  this  danger,  Capt.  Stewart  took  the  most  elaborate  precau- 
tions. His  ship  was  anchored  in  the  middle  of  the  narrow  channel ;  and 
on  either  side  were  anchored  seven  gunboats,  officered  and  manned  by 
the  men  of  the  frigate.  Around  the  gunboats  and  frigate  extended  a 
vast  circle  of  floating  logs,  linked  together  by  heavy  chains,  that  no 
boarders  might  come  alongside  the  vessels.  The  great  frigate  towered 
high   above   the   surrounding   gunboats,  her  black   sides   unbroken    by  an 


1 


, 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


205 


open  port ;  for  the  gun-deck  ports  were  lashed  down,  and  the  guns  housed. 
Not  a  rope's  end  was  permitted  to  hang  over  the  side  ;  the  stern  ladders 
were  removed,  and  the  gangway  cleats  knocked  off.  An  enemy  might  as 
well  hope  to  scale  the  unbroken  front  of  a  massive  wall  of  masonry, 
as  that  dark,  forbidding  hull.  From  the  bulwarks  rose  on  all  sides,  to 
the  ends  of  the  yards,  a  huge  net  made  of  ratlin  stuff,  boiled  in  pitch 
until  it  would  turn  the  edge  of  a  cutlass,  and  further  strengthened  by 
nail-rods  and  small  chains.  The  upper  part  of  the  netting  was  weighted 
with  kentledge,  the  pigs  of  iron  used  for  ballast ;  so  that,  should  the  hardy 
assailants  succeed  in  coming  alongside  and  scaling  the  side,  a  few  blows 
of  an  a.\e  would  let  fall  the  heavily  weighted  nettings,  sweeping  the 
boarders  into  the  sea,  and  covering  boats  and  men  with  an  impenetrable 
mesh,  under  which  they  would  be  at  the  mercy  of  the  sailors  on  the 
frigate's  decks.  The  carronades  and  howitzers  were  loaded  with  grape ; 
and  the  officers  and  men  felt  that  only  bravery  on  their  part  was  essential 
to  the  defeat  of  any  force  that  Great  Britain  could  send  against  the  ship. 
Heedless  of  these  formidable  preparations  for  their  reception,  the 
enemy  set  under  way  two  expeditions  for  the  capture  of  the  "  Constella- 
tion." In  neither  case  did  the  antagonists  actually  come  to  blows,  for 
the  approach  of  the  British  was  discovered  before  they  came  within 
pistol-shot ;  and,  as  their  only  chance  lay  in  surprising  the  Americans, 
they  retired  without  striking  a  blow.  The  coming  of  the  first  expedi- 
tion was  known  upon  the  "  Constellation "  the  day  before  it  actually  set 
out.  A  Portuguese  merchantman,  trying  to  beat  out  of  the  bay,  hatl 
been  stopped  by  the  British,  and  anchored  a  few  miles  dcIow  the  Ameri- 
can frigate.  A  guard  and  lookout  from  the  English  fleet  were  stationed 
on  the  Portuguese  to  watch  the  "Constellation."  In  an  unguarded 
moment,  these  men  let  fall  a  hint  of  the  movement  under  way ;  and  an 
American  passenger  on  the  Portuguese  vessel  quickly  carried  the  news 
to  Capt.  Stewart,  and  volunteered  to  remain  aivi  aid  in  the  defence. 
The  next  night  was  dark  and  drizzly  ;  and  the  British,  to  the  number  of 
two  thousand,  set  out  in  boats  for  the  "  Constellation."  Hardly  were 
they   within   gun-shot,   when   two   lanterns   gleamed    from   the   side   of   a 


Pi 

III 


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11     'iJ 


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H 


206 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    181 2. 


watchful  guard-boat ;  and  the  roll  of  drums  and  sound  of  hurrying  feet 
aboard  the  frigate  told  that  the  alarm  was  given.  The  assailants  there- 
upon abandoned  the  adventure,  and  returned  to  their  ship.  The  next 
night  they  returned,  but  again  retreated  discomfited.  Several  nights  later, 
a  third  expedition  ciime  up.  This  time  the  guard-boat  was  far  down  the 
bay ;  and,  seeing  the  huge  procession  of  boats,  the  Americans  calmly 
edged  in  among  them,  and  for  some  time  rowed  along,  listening  to  the 
conversation  of  the  British,  who  never  dreamed  that  an  enemy  could  be 
in  their  midst.  Suddenly  a  sailor,  more  sharp- ..;yed  than  the  rest,  caught 
sight  of  the  interlojjers ;  and  the  cry  was  raised,  "A  stranger!"  The 
Americans  tugged  at  their  oars,  and  were  soon  lost  to  sight ;  but,  not 
being  pursued,  returned,  and  accompanied  their  foes  up  the  bay,  and  even 
anchored  with  the  flotilla  at  a  point  above  the  "Constellation."  The 
enemy,  finding  the  Americans  constantly  on  the  watch,  abandoned  their 
designs  on  the  ship,  and  vowed  that  Capt.  Stewart  must  be  a  Scotch- 
man, as  he  could  never  be  caught  napping.  Some  days  later,  an  ofificer, 
sent  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  British  fleet,  vastly  chagrined  the  officers 
there  by  repeating  their  remarks  overheard  by  the  guard-boat  officers  who 
joined  the  British  flotilla  in  the  dark.  These  three  escapes  confirmed 
the  reputation  borne  by  the  "Constellation,"  as  a  "lucky  ship;"  and 
although  she  remained  pent  up  in  port  throughout  the  war,  doing  noth- 
ing for  her  country,  her  luck  was  unquestioned  in  the  minds  of  the 
sailo'-s.  With  her  they  classed  the  "Constitution"  and  "Enterprise," 
while  the  "Chesapeake"  and  "President"  were  branded  as  unlucky. 
Certainly  the  career  of  these  ships  in  the  War  of  1812  went  far  to  con- 
firm the  superstitious  belief  of  the  sailors. 

In  the  course  of  the  next  two  months,  Chesapeake  Bay  was  the  scene 
of  two  gallant  adventures,  in  which  American  privateersmen  were  opposed 
to  the  British  sailors.  On  Feb.  8,  the  privateer  schooner  "  Lottery " 
was  standing  down  the  bay  under  easy  sail,  out-bound  on  a  voyage  to 
Bombay.  The  schooner  was  one  of  the  clipper-built  craft,  for  which 
Baltimore  ship-builders  were  famous  the  world  over.  Her  battery  con- 
sisted  of  six  twelve-pounder  carronades,  and  her  crew  numbered   twenty- 


' 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


207 


five  men.  Near  the  point  at  whieh  the  noble  bay  opens  into  the  Atlantic 
ocean,  a  narrow  sheet  of  water  extends  into  the  Virginia  shore,  winding 
in  sinuous  courses  several  miles  inland.  This  is  known  a.s  Lynnhaven 
Bay ;  and  on  its  placid  surface  there  lay,  on  the  morning  of  the 
"  Lottery's "  appearance,  four  powerful  frigates  flying  the  British  flag. 
From  their  tops  the  approaching  schooner  could  be  seen  across  the  low- 
lying  neck  of  land  that  separated  the  smaller  bay  from  the  main  body 
of  water.  The  cry  of  "  Sail,  ho  I "  roused  the  fleet  to  sudden  activity ; 
and  an  expedition  of  two  hundred  men  was  quickly  organized  to  proceed 
against  the  privateer.  Fortune  seemed  to  favor  the  British  ;  for  hardly 
had  the  boats  left  the  fleet,  when  the  fresh  breeze  died  away,  and  the 
schooner  was  left  at  the  mercy  of  the  boats,  which,  propelled  by  the  long, 
swinging  strokes  of  man-o'-war  oarsmen,  bore  down  rapidly  upon  her. 
Capt.  Southcomb  of  the  "  Lottery "  was  an  American  sailor,  who  had 
smelt  powder  before;  and  he  had  no  idea  of  yielding  up  his  siiip  without 
a  struggle.  The  formidable  force  sent  against  him  merely  moved  him  to 
more  desperate  resistance.  When  the  boats  came  within  range,  the  guns 
of  the  "  Lottery "  opened  upon  them  with  a  hail  of  grape  and  round 
shot.  StUl  the  assailants  pressed  on,  and  soon  came  beneath  the 
schooner's  lee.  Dropping  their  oars,  the  plucky  British  tars  sprang  into 
the  chains,  swarmed  up  the  bobstay  and  over  the  bow,  and  used  each 
other's  backs  as  ladders  to  aid  them  to  reach  the  schooner's  deck.  The 
little  crew  of  privateersmen  fought  viciously,  guarding  the  side  with  cut- 
lasses and  pistols,  hurling  the  boarders  back  into  the  sea,  or  cutting  them 
down  as  they  reached  the  deck.  Cold  shot  and  kentledge  were  dashed 
upon  the  boats,  in  the  hopes  of  sinking  them ;  while  the  carronades 
poured  a  destructive  fire  upon  such  boats  as  could  be  reached  by  their 
shot.  But  the  conflict  was  too  unequal  to  last  long.  The  English  sailors 
swarmed  over  the  gunwale  on  all  sides,  and,  cheering  lustily,  drove  the 
small  remnant  of  defenders  below.  Capt.  Southcomb  was  cut  down,  and 
lay  mortally  wounded  upon  the  deck  when  the  enemy  took  possession  of 
the  ship.  When  the  victors  came  to  look  about  the  captured  vessel,  they 
found    such   proofs   of   a   desperate   resistance,  that   their  admiration    was 


I 


liil 


f.  '  1 


208 


BLUE-JACKIiTS  OF    181 2. 


open  and   pronounced.      Five   only  of  the   schooner's   crew  were   unhurt, 
while  the  British   paid  for  their  success  with   the   loss   of  thirteen   men. 


AWAITINU  THE  BOARDERS. 

Capt.  Southcomb,  in  a  dying  condition,  was  taken  aboard  the  frigate 
"Belvidem."  where  he  received  the  tenderest  treatment,  and  was  shown 
marked     i:       x  on  account  of  his  bravery. 

lii  e.'.t   encounter  between  the   blockaders   and  a  privateer,  the 


• 'I 


blue-jackf:ts  of  1812. 


209 


British  bore  away  the  palm  for  gallantry.  This  time  the  privateersmcn 
had  every  advantage,  while  the  British  carried  the  day  by  pure  courage. 
The  captured  vessels  were  the  privateer  schooner  "  Dolphin,"  of  twelve 
guns,  and  the  letters-of-marque  "Racer,"  "Arab,"  and  "  Lyn.x,"  of  six 
guns  each.  The  crews  of  the  four  vessels  aggregated  one  hundred  and 
sixty  men.  Against  this  force  came  five  boats  manned  by  one  hundred 
and  five  British  sailors,  who  pulled  fifteen  miles  in  order  to  attack  their 
foes.  Wearied  though  they  were  by  the  long  pull,  the  sight  of  the 
privateers  seemed  to  arouse  new  strength  in  the  plucky  tars ;  and,  with- 
out a  thought  of  the  odds  against  them,  they  dashed  forward,  cheering, 
and  calling  upon  the  Americans  to  surrender.  Had  the  four  schooners 
been  manned  by  such  brave  men  as  those  who  defended  the  "  Lottery," 
the  assailants  might  have  been  beaten  off.  As  it  was,  two  vessels  sur- 
rendered without  firing  a  shot.  The  crew  of  the  "Racer"  fought  pluckily 
for  a  time,  but  were  soon  overpowered,  and  the  vessel's  guns  turned 
upon  the  "  Dolphin."  When  fire  was  opened  upon  this  last  vessel,  her 
crew,  affrighted,  leaped  overboard  from  every  side ;  and  the  "  Dolphin " 
was  soon  in  the  hands  of  her  enemies,  who  had  lost  but  thirteen  men  in 
the  whole  action. 

Many  a  gallant  adventure,  such  as  this,  is  to  be  laid  to  the  credit  of 
the  British  tars  on  the  American  station  during  the  continuance  of  the 
blockade.  Right  dashing  fellows  were  they,  at  cutting  out  a  coasting- 
schooner  as  she  lay  under  the  guns  of  some  American  earthworks.  The 
lads  that  have  won  for  England  her  supremacy  upon  the  seas  have 
never  been  behindhand  at  swarming  up  the  sides  of  an  enemy,  leaping  his 
taffrail,  and  meeting  him  on  his  own  deck  with  the  cold  steel.  And  as 
the  year  rolled  on,  and  the  blockade  along  the  American  coast  was  made 
more  strict,  the  meetings  between  the  enemies  became  more  frequent. 
From  every  seaport  town,  Yankee  privateers  were  waiting  to  escape  to 
sea ;  and  they  seldom  won  clear  without  a  brush  with  the  watchful 
enemy.  The  British,  too,  had  begun  to  fit  out  privateers,  though  Ameri- 
can commerce  offered  but  little  enticement  for  these  mercenary  gentry. 
Between   the   ships   of  the   two  private    armed    navies,   encounters   were 


I 


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ii.i^.ii 

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HI-UK-JACKF/rS   OF    iSi: 


common  ;  and  the  battles  were  often  fought  with  courage  and  seamanship 
worthy  of  the  regular  navy. 

Little  glory  was  won  by  the  navy  of  the  United  States  during  the 
opening  months  of  the  year.  Many  ships  were  laid  up  in  port ;  while 
some,  like  the  "Constellation,"  were  blockaded  by  the  enemy.  The 
"President"  and  the  "Congress"  managed  to  get  to  sea  from  Boston  in 
April,  and  entered  upon  a  protracted  cruise,  in  which  the  bad  luck  of 
the  former  ship  seemed  to  pursue  her  with  malevolent  persistence.  The 
two  ships  parted  after  cruising  in  company  for  a  month,  and  scoured 
the  ocean  until  the  following  December,  when  they  returned  home, 
experiencing  little  but  continual  disappointments.  The  "  Congress  "  could 
report  only  the  capture  of  four  British  merchantmen,  as  the  result  of 
her  eight  months'  cruise ;  while  the  long  service  had  so  seriously  injured 
her  hull,  that  she  was  condemned  as  unseaworthy,  and  ended  her  career, 
a  dismantled  hulk  reduced  to  the  ignoble  service  of  store-ship  at  a 
navy-yard. 

The  "  President  "  was  little  more  fortunate  in  her  search  for  prizes. 
After  parting  with  her  consort,  she  beat  about  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Gulf  Stream,  in  the  hopes  of  getting  a  ship  or  two  returning  from 
the  West  Indies.  But  day  after  day  passed,  and  no  ship  appeared. 
Changing  his  plan.  Commodore  Rodgers  made  for  the  North  Sea,  feeling 
sure  that  there  he  would  find  in  plenty  the  marine  game  for  which  he 
was  seeking.  But,  to  his  astonishment,  not  an  English  ship  was  to  be 
found.  It  was  then  the  middle  of  summer,  and  the  frigate  had  been  at 
sea  for  nearly  three  months.  The  jackies  on  the  forecastle  were  weary 
of  the  long  voyage,  and  fairly  at  the  end  of  their  occupations  for 
"teasing  time."  The  ofTicers,  well  knowing  the  effect  of  long  idleness 
upon  the  sailors,  were  tireless  in  devising  means  of  employment.  The 
rigging  was  set  up  weekly,  so  that  the  shrouds  and  stays  were  like  lines 
drawn  with  a  ruler.  Enough  rope-yarn  was  pulled,  and  spun-yarn  spun, 
to  supply  a  navy-yard  for  months.  Laggards  were  set  to  scrubbing  the 
rust  off  the  chain  cables,  and  sharpening  with  files  the  flukes  of  the 
anchors.     When   such   work  failed,  the   men  were   drilled   in   the   use   of 


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CUTTING  OUT   PRIZES. 


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TT 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


213 


cutlasses  and  single  sticks ;  forming  long  lines  clown  the  gun-deck,  and 
slashing  away  with  right  good  will  at  the  word  of  the  instructor.  Ikit 
the  monotony  of  a  long  cruise  without  a  prize  cannot  long  be  beguiled 
by  such  makeshifts ;  and  it  was  with  the  heartiest  pleasure  that  the 
sailors  heard  that  the  commodore  had  determined  to  put  into  port  for  a 
time,  and  take  on  board  stores. 

It  was  North  Bergen,  Norway,  that  Rodgcrs  chose  for  this  purpose ; 
and  an  unfortunate  choice  it  proved  to  be,  for  a  famine  prevailed  in 
the  country,  and  only  water  could  be  obtained  for  the  ship.  Leaving  the 
inhospitable  port,  the  "  President "  was  soon  again  upon  the  ocean.  She 
quickly  took  two  British  merchantmen,  from  which  she  replenished  her 
stores.  Shortly  after,  two  hostile  frigates  hove  in  sight,  and  the  "  Presi- 
dent "  fled  for  her  life  before  them  for  more  than  eighty  hours.  At  that 
season,  in  those  high  latitudes,  no  friendly  darkness  settled  over  the 
ocean  to  give  the  fugitive  a  chance  to  escape.  Bright  daylight  persisted 
throughout  the  chase,  and  the  sun  never  dipped  below  the  horizon. 
Sheer  good  sailing  saved  the  American  frigate,  and  enabled  her  to  leave 
her  pursuers  far  in  her  wake. 

For  some  days  thereafter,  better  luck  seemed  to  attend  the  frigate 
that  so  pluckily  kept  up  her  operations  in  seas  thousands  of  miles  from  a 
friendly  port.  With  true  Yankee  audacity,  she  extended  her  cruise  even 
into  the  Irish  Channel,  and  there  preyed  upon  British  commerce  until 
the  enemy  was  moved  to  send  a  squadron  to  rout  out  the  audacious 
intruder.     Then  Rodgers  set  sail  for  home. 

On  the  voyage  to  the  United  States,  the  "President"  captured  a 
British  armed  schooner  by  a  stratagem  which  taught  at  least  one  British 
officer  to  respect  "Yankee  cuteness." 

It  was  near  the  last  of  September  that  the  frigate  was  frying  along 
before  a  fresh  breeze.  Her  yards  were  spread  with  a  cloud  of  snowy 
canvas,  and  the  wind  sung  through  the  straining  cordage  a  melody  sweet 
to  the  ears  of  the  sailor  homeward  bound.  Towards  evening,  a  small 
sail  was  made  out  in  the  distance ;  and,  as  time  wore  on,  it  was  seen 
that   she  was   rapidly  approaching  the   "President."     Rodgers    surmised 


11 


I   r 


214 


DLUK-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


.i 


that  the  stranger  might  be  a  British  vessel,  and  determined  to  lure  her 
within  range  by  strategy.  In  somj  way  he  had  obtained  knowledge  of 
some  of  the  private  signals  of  the  Ikitish  navy ;  and  in  a  few  minutes 
from  the  masthead  of  the  American  frigate,  there  fluttered  a  row  of  flags 
which  announced  her  as  the  British  frigate  "Sea-Horse."  The  stranger 
promptly  responded,  and  was  made  out  to  be  the  schooner  "Highflyer," 
a  little  craft  noted  for  her  sailing  qualities.  Unsuspectingly  the  "  High- 
flyer "  came  under  the  stern  of  the  American  frigate,  and  waited  for  a 
boat  to  be  sent  aboard.  Soon  the  boat  came  ;  and  one  of  Rodgcrs's  lieu- 
tenants, clad  in  British  uniform,  clambered  up  the  side,  and  was  received 
with  due  honor.  He  was  the  bearer  of  a  message  from  Commodore 
Rodgers,  requesting  that  the  signal-books  of  the  "Highflyer"  be  sent  on 
board  the  fictitious  "Sea-Horse"  for  comparison  and  revision.  This  the 
liritish  captain  hastened  to  do,  and  soon  followed  his  books  to  the  deck 
of  the  frigate,  where  a  lieutenant  met  him,  clothed  in  full  British  uniform. 
A  file  of  marines,  dressed  in  the  scarlet  coats  of  the  British  service,  stood 
on  the  deck ;  and  the  duped  Englishman  greatly  admired  the  appearance 
of  the  frigate,  remarking  to  the  officer  who  escorted  him  to  Rodgcrs's 
cabin,  that  so  trim  a  craft  could  only  be  found  in  His  Majesty's 
service. 

On  entering  the  cabin,  the  English  officer  greeted  Commodore  Rodgers 
with  deference,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  tell  of  naval  matters. 

"I  have  here,"  said  he,  placing  a  bundle  of  papers  in  the  commodore's 
hands,  "a  numbers  of  despatches  for  Admiral  Warren,  who  is  on  this 
station.  You  may  not  know  that  one  of  the  principal  objects  of  our 
squadron  cruising  here  is  the  capture  of  the  Yankee  friprate  '  President,' 
which  has  been  greatly  annoying  British  commerce" 

Rodgers  was  naturally  much  interested  in  this  staevnent,  and  asked 
the  visitor  if  he  knew  much  about  the  commander  of  the  "President." 

"  I  hear  he  is  an  odd  fish,"  was  the  response  •  "  and  certainly  he  is 
devilish  hard  to  catch." 

Rodgers  started.  He  had  hardly  expected  so  frank  an  expression  of 
opinion. 


or 
R 


Mi,n;-r\('KK'is  ok  isu. 


15 


"Sir,"  said    ho   emphatically,  "do  you    know  what   vessel  you   are   on 
board  of  ? " 

"Why,  certainly, — on  board  of  Mis  Majesty's  ship  'Sea-Horse.'" 


"I  AM   COMMODOPE   ROOGEKS." 


"No,  sir,  you  are  mistaken,"  was   the   startling   response.     "You   are 
on  board  of  the  United  States  frigate  '  President,'  and  I  am  Commodore 


Rodgers." 


• 


ill 

'I 


!i 


I 


II 


■^s^' 


K.U 


iWtfcjW'i.  ■^' 


^ 


2l6 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


The  astounded  Englishman  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  rushed  to  the  deck. 
The  sight  he  saw  there  was  still  more  startling.  The  quarter-deck  was 
crowded  with  officers  in  United  States  uniform.  The  scarlet  coats  of  the 
marines  had  vanished,  and  were  replaced  by  Yankee  blue.  Even  as  he 
looked,  the  British  flag  came  fluttering  down,  the  American  ensign  went 
up,  and  the  band  struck  up  "  Yankee  Doodle." 

Nothing  was  left  to  the  Englishman  but  to  submit ;  and,  with  the  best 
grace  possible,  he  surrendered  his  vessel  and  himself  to  the  "odd  fish," 
who  had  so  cleverly  trapped  him. 

Three  days  later,  the  "  President,"  with  her  prize,  and  crowded  with 
prisoners,  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Newport,  after  a  cruise  of 
one  hundred  and  forty-eight  days.  In  actual  results,  the  cruise  was  far 
from  satisfactory,  for  but  eleven  vessels  had  been  taken.  But  the  service 
rendered  the  country  by  annoying  the  enemy's  merchantmen,  and  draw- 
ing the  British  war-vessels  away  in  chase,  was  vast.  At  one  time  more 
than  twenty  British  men-of-war  were  searching  for  the  roving  American 
frigate  ;  and  the  seafaring  people  of  the  United  States  were  thus  greatly 
benefited  by  the  "  President's  "  prolonged  cruise. 


i^     1: 


JACK  AT  HOME, 


CHAPTER    IX. 

DECATUR  BI.OCKADF.n  AT  NEW  YORK.  —  ATTEMPTS  TO  ESCAPE  THROUGH  I.ONO  ISLAND 
.SOUND.-THE  FL.AO-SHIP  STRUCK  1!Y  LIGHTNING.  — TORPEDOES. -FULTON'S  .STEAM  FKIO.ATE. 
—  ACTION   BETWEEN  THE  "CHESAPEAKE"  AND  "SHANNON." 


'i: 


HILE    the    "  President "   was    thus    roaming    the    seas,   almost 

within    sight    of    the    shores    of    the    British    Isles,  events  were 

occurrin<5  along  the  American  coast  which  were   little   likely  to 

raise  the  spirits  of  the  people  of  the  United  States.     From  the 

"President,"  the  "(Congress,"  the  "Esse.x,"  and   the   smaller  vessels  that 

were  upholding   the    honor  of   the  flag    upon    the   ocean,  they  could   hear 

nothing.      But  worse  than  this  was  it  i">r  the  good  people  of    New  York 

or  Boston   to  go   down   to   the  water-side   and   see   stanch  United  States 

frigates  kept  in  port  by  the  overwhelming  forces   of  the  enemy,  that  lay 

watchfully  outside  the  harbor's  mouth. 

For  there  was   no  doubt  about   it :   the   blockade  was   daily  becoming 

closer ;   and   in   the  months  of   April   and  May  a  ship  would   have   found 

it  a  hard  task  to  run  out   of   New  York  Harbor  without  falling  into   the 

hands  of  the  British  fleet  stationed  there.     But,  at   that  very  time,  three 

stout  men-of-war  floated  on  the  waves  of  that  noble  bay    under  the  com- 

217 


It 


I.i 


1     "  .„ 


i'      i; 


Mi 

...  i 

i 

w 

0 

1 

•l 

n 

1 

i 

L 

i 

2l8 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


mand  of  an  officer  little  used  to  staying  quietly  in  port  in  time  of  war. 
The  officer  was  Stephen  Decatur :  and  the  ships  were  the  flag-ship 
"  United  States ; "  the  captured  "  Macedonian,"  repaired,  and  flying  the 
stars  and  stripes,  under  the  command  of  the  gallant  Capt.  Jacob  Jones ; 
and  the  sloop-of-war  "  Hornet,"  Capt.  Biddle. 

With  this  force  under  his  command,  Decatur  burned  with  the  desire 
to  get  to  sea.  The  watchfulness  of  the  British  at  the  Narrows  made  it 
useless  to  think  of  escaping  that  way :  therefore,  he  determined  to  pass 
up  the  sound,  and  reach  the  ocean  by  way  of  the  opening  between 
Montauk  Point  and  Block  Island.  At  the  very  outset  of  this  voyage, 
however,  was  a  serious  obstacle.  Through  the  narrow  channel  of  the 
liast  River,  between  Ward's  Island  and  the  Long  Island  shore,  the  tides 
rushed  with  a  mad  speed  and  turbulence,  that  had  won  for  the  strait 
the  significant  name  of  Hell  Gate.  The  United  States  Government  had 
not  then  bent  its  energies  to  undermining  and  blowing  into  bits  the 
jagged  rocks  that  at  low  tide  reared  their  crests  above  the  swirling 
eddies.  With  its  tides  like  mill  races,  and  rocks  hidden  beneath  the 
treacherous  water.  Hell  Gate  was  a  fearful  place  for  any  ship  to  make 
its  way  through  with  the  uncertain  aid  of  sails  alone.  Still  greater  were 
its  dangers  for  the  ponderous  and  deep-laden  men-of-war,  that  required 
deep  water  and  plenty  of  sea-room  for  their  movements.  Such  consid- 
erations, however,  had  no  weight  with  Decatur,  who  had  seen  his  ships 
lying  idly  at  their  anchorage  off  Staten  Island  long  enough.  In  the 
night  of  i\Iay  24,  he  accordingly  got  up  anchors  and  started  for  the 
sound. 

Hell  Gate  was  passed  .safely,  thanks  to  a  skilful  pilot,  whom  neither 
the  darkness  of  the  night,  nor  the  perils  of  the  narrow  channel,  could 
daunt.  Once  past  this  danger,  the  three  vessels  made  their  way  up  the 
sound,  with  the  flag-ship  leading.  They  had  gone  but  a  little  way  when 
black  clouds  to  the  westward  told  of  a  coming  storm.  The  cloud-bank 
came  rolling  up  rapidly;  and  soon,  with  a  burst  of  rain,  the  three  vessels 
were  enveloped  in  the  thunder-shower.  The  lightning  flashed  through 
the  black  clouds,  the  thundei  crashed  and  roared,  and  the  wind  shrieked 


BLL'E-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


219 


fiercely  through  the  cordage.  The  "  United  States "  held  her  place  at 
the  head  of  the  squadron  ;  while  behind,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  ^able's- 
length,  came  the  "  Macedonian."  Suddenly  the  men  on  the  dock  of  the 
latter  vessel  were  horrified  to  see  a  jagged  flash  of  lightning  cut  its 
zigzag  course  through  the  clouds,  then  dart,  straight  as  an  arrow,  at  the 
main-mast  of  the  "United  States."  Hoarse  cries  were  heard  from 
the  deck  of  the  stricken  frigate ;  and  the  captain  of  the  "  Macedonian," 
fearing  lest  the  "States"  should  blow  up,  threw  all  aback  on  his  ship,  to 
escape  the  explosion.  But  happily  the  thunderbolt  had  done  little  serious 
injury.  In  its  course  it  had  cut  away  the  pendant;  shot  into  the  doctor's 
cabin,  extinguishing  that  worthy's  candle,  to  his  vast  astonishment ;  then, 
gliding  away,  broke  through  the  ship's  hull  near  the  water-line,  and 
plunged  into  the  sea,  after  ripping  off  a  few  sheets  of  copper  from  the 
ship's  bottom.  No  delay  was  caused  by  the  accident ;  though  the  super- 
stitious sailors  pronounced  it  an  evil  omen,  and  dismally  predicted  all 
sorts  of  disasters. 

On  the  29th  of  May  the  squadron  reached  the  strait  through  which 
Decatur  hoped  to  gain  the  ocean  ;  but,  to  the  intense  disappointment  of 
all  on  board,  a  formidable  British  fleet  barred  all  egress.  Three  days 
later  the  Americans  made  an  attempt  to  slip  out  unseen  ;  but,  failing  in 
this,  they  returned  to  New  London  harbor,  where  the  two  frigates  were 
kept  rotting  in  the  mud  until  the  war  was  ended.  The  "  Hornet  "  luckily 
mnnaged  to  run  the  blockade,  and  of  her  exploits  we  shall  hear  later. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  three  American  ships  at  New  London,  the 
'  Demy  guarded  the  coast  with  renewed  vigilance.  The  inhabitants  made 
'v.crv  attempt  to  drive  away  the  blockadcrs  ;  and  in  the  course  of  this 
prolonged  struggle  there  appeared,  for  almost  the  first  time  in  the  history 
of  warfare,  that  most  terrible  of  offensive  weapons,  the  submarine  torpedo. 

During  the  Revolution,  two  attempts  had  been  made  to  blow  up  British 
men-of-war  by  means  of  torpedoes,  invented  by  a  Saybrook  mechanic 
named  Bushnell,  Though  the  attempts  failed,  yet  the  torpedoes  demon- 
strated their  tremendous  jiower.  Before  the  declaration  of  the  second 
war   with    I'Jigland,  Robert    Fulton,  the    inventor   of   the    steamboat,    h..l 


lU 


li. 


■ 
f  ■' 


I 


Ni 


If!" 

tit  > 

'in 


-If 


I 


m 


El  I 


220 


BLUK-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


made  many  improvements  upon  Bushnell's  designs,  and  had  so  thoroughly 
spread  the  knowledge  of  torpedo  warfare  that  it  suggested  itself  to  many 
New  Englanders  as  a  means  of  driving  the  enemy  from  their  coast. 

The  first  attempt  was  well  planned,  but  failed  through  an  entirely 
accidental  combination  of  circumstances.  Certain  private  citizens  (for  in 
that  day  it  was  thought  ignoble  for  a  government  to  embark  in  torpedo 
warfare)  fitted  out  in  New  York  a  schooner,  the  "  Eagle,"  in  the  hold 
of  which  ten  kegs  of  powder,  together  with  sulphur  and  piles  of  heavy 
stones,  were  placed.  In  the  head  of  one  of  the  casks  were  two  gun- 
locks,  primed,  and  held  in  place  by  tv  0  barrels  of  flour.  Should  either  of 
the  barrels  be  moved,  the  lock  would  ;  ^j  and  the  terrible  mine  would 

explode  with  tremendous  force.  With  thi .  eadful  engine  of  destruction, 
carefully  covered  by  a  cargo  of  flour  and  naval  stores,  the  "  Eagle "  left 
New  York,  and  made  her  way  up  the  bay,  until,  near  New  London,  she 
was  overhauled  and  captured  by  the  British  frigate  "  Ramillies."  Boats 
were  sent  out  by  the  English  to  take  possession  of  the  prize ;  but  the 
crew  of  the  "  Eagle,"  seeing  the  enemy  coming,  took  to  their  small  boats, 
and  succeeded  in  safely  reaching  the  shore.  The  captors,  on  boarding 
the  vessel,  were  vastly  pleased  to  find  that  its  cargo  consisted  largely 
of  flour,  of  which  the  "  Ramillies "  stood  in  great  need.  They  at  once 
attempted  to  get  the  frigate  alongside  the  prize,  that  the  captured  cargo 
might  be  readily  transferred.  But  a  calm  had  fallen,  and  two  hours'  con- 
stant work  with  sweeps  and  towing  was  unavailing.  Accordingly,  this 
plan  of  action  was  abandoned,  and  the  boats  were  ordered  to  lighter 
the  cargo  from  the  "  Eagle "  to  the  frigate.  Hardly  had  the  first  barrel 
been  moved,  when,  with  a  roar,  and  rush  of  flame  and  smoke  as  from  a 
volcano,  the  schooner  blew  up.  Huge  timbers,  stones,  and  barrels  were 
sent  flying  high  into  the  air.  The  lieutenant  and  ten  men  from  the 
frigate,  who  were  on  the  "Eagle"  at  the  time,  were  blown  to  atoms; 
and  the  timbers  and  missiles,  falling  on  all  sides,  seriously  injured  many 
men  in  the  boats  near  by.  Had  the  frigate  been  alongside,  where  her 
commander  had  endeavored  to  place  her,  she  would  have  gone  to  the 
bottom,  with  all  her  crew. 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


221 


An  attempt  so  nearly  successful  as  this  could  not  be  long  in  leading 
others  to  make  similar  ventures.  Sir  Thomas  Hardy,  the  commander  of 
the  "  Ramillies,"  was  kept  in  a  constant  fever  of  apprehension,  lest  some 
night  his  ship  should  be  suddenly  sent  to  the  bottom  by  one  of  the 
insidious  torpedoes.  Several  times  the  ship  was  attacked  ;  and  her  escapes 
were  so  purely  matters  of  accident,  that  she  seemed  almost  to  be  under 
the  protection  of  some  sailors'  deity.  A  Norwich  mechanic,  who  had 
invented  a  submarine  boat  with  a  speed  of  three  miles  an  hour,  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  under  the  bottom  of  the  blockader  three  times,  but 
was  each  time  foiled  in  his  attempt  to  attach  a  torpedo  to  the  ship's 
hull.  Another  American,  a  fisherman,  succeeded  in  getting  alongside  in 
a  whale-boat,  unobserved,  but  was  driven  away  before  he  could  get  his 
torpedo  in  position.  Such  constant  attacks  so  alarmed  Hardy,  that  at 
last  he  gave  up  bringing  his  ship  to  anchor,  keeping  her  continually 
under  way,  and,  as  a  further  precaution,  causing  her  bottom  to  be  swept 
every  two  hours  throughout  the  day  and  night. 

The  use  of  torpedoes  was  not  confined  to  the  people  of  New  England. 
New  York  Harbor  was  closed  with  a  row  of  them.  The  British  seventy- 
four  "  Plantagenet,"  lying  off  Cape  Henry,  Virginia,  was  nearly  sunk  by 
one  in  the  charge  of  Mr.  Mix,  an  American  naval  officer.  The  attack  was 
made  near  ten  o'clock,  on  an  unusually  dark  night.  Mi.\  and  his  asso- 
ciates pulled  in  a  heavy  boat  to  a  point  near  the  bow  of  the  menaced 
vessel.  The  torpedo  v/as  then  slipped  into  the  water,  with  the  clock- 
work which  was  to  discharge  it  set  in  motion.  The  rushing  tide  carried 
the  destructive  engine  down  toward  the  frigate  ;  and  the  Americans  pulled 
away  into  the  darkness,  to  await  the  explosion.  But  the  clockwork  had 
been  badly  adjusted,  and  the  torpedo  exploded  just  before  it  reached  the 
ship.  A  huge  column  of  water,  gleaming  with  a  ghostly  sulphurous  light, 
was  thrown  high  in  the  air,  falling  with  terrific  force  on  the  deck  of  the 
frigate,  which  was  almost  capsized  by  the  shock. 

A  veritable  storm  of  abuse  and  condemnation  followed  the  introduc- 
tion of  torpedo  warfare.  All  countries  and  all  peoples  pronounced  it 
treacherous   and   cowardly,  and   the    English   press   was   particularly  loud 


i 

1 

5- 

i 

H 

•il 

l| 

II' 


222 


BLUE-JACKi;rS   OF    1812. 


in  its  denunciations.  Yet  the  torpedo  had  won  its  place  in  the  arma- 
ments of  nations ;  and  to-day  we  see  all  the  nations  of  Europe  vieing  with 
each  other  in  the  invention  and  construction  of  powerful  and  accurate 
torpedoes  and  swift  torpedo-boats. 

The  germ  of  another  feature  of  modern  naval  organization  is  to  be 
found  in  the  annals  of  the  War  of  18 12.  The  first  war-vessel  propelled 
by  steam  was  launched  by  the  Americans  for  service  in  this  war.  She 
was  designed  by  Robert  Fulton,  and  bore  the  name  of  "  Fulton  the 
First."  In  model  she  was  a  queer  craft,  with  two  hulls  like  a  catamaran, 
with  the  single  propelling-wheel  mounted  between  them  amidships.  Her 
armament  was  to  consist  of  thirty  thirty-two-pounder  guns,  and  two  one- 
hundrcd-poundcr  columbiads.  A  secondary  engine  was  designed  to  throw 
floods  of  water  upon  the  decks  and  through  the  port-holes  of  an  enemy. 
While  the  vessel  was  building,  reports  concerning  her  reached  England; 
and  soon  the  most  ludicrously  exi  g^crat  d  accounts  of  her  power  were 
current  in  that  country.  "  She  mounts  fi)rty-four  guns,"  said  an  English 
paper,  "four  of  which  are  one-hundred-pounders,  mounted  in  bomb-proofs, 
and  defended  by  thousands  of  boarding-pikes  and  cutlasses  wielded  by 
steam ;  while  showers  of  boiling  water  arc  poured  over  those  boarders 
who  might  escape  death  from  the  rapidly  whirling  steel."  Unfortunately 
for  the  American  cause,  this  much  dreaded  vessel  did  not  get  into  the 
water  in  time  to  take  any  active  part  in  the  war. 

:•:  June,  1813,  while  the  British  blockaders  in  the  Sound  were  exer- 
cising all  their  ingenuity  to  keep  of  the  torpedoes,  there  was  fought  off 
the  Massachusetts  coast,  near  Boston,  an  engagement  which  must  go 
down  to  history  as  one  of  the  most  brilliant  naval  duels  of  the  age  of 
sails.  The  United  States  frigate  "Chesapeake"  was  refitting  at  Boston, 
after  a  cruise  of  four  months,  during  which  she  had  more  than  justified 
her  reputation  as  an  unlucky  ship.  Though  she  sailed  the  waters  most 
frequented  by  British  merchantmen,  she  returned  to  port  having  captured 
only  four  vessels.  Three  men-of-war  were  sighted,  but  could  not  be 
spoken.  Strangely  enough,  the  frigate  sailed  over  the  spot  where  lay 
the  sunken  "Peacock"  the  very  day  after  the  "Hornet"  had  fought  her 


t 

I 


I, 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1S12. 


22 


famous  fight.  Ill-luck  pursued  the  hapless  ship  even  to  her  home  port ; 
for,  as  she  was  entering  the  port  of  Boston,  a  sudden  squall  carried  away 
the  topmast,  with  several  men  who  were  aloft  at  the  time. 

When  the  "Hornet"  reached  port,  after  her  victory  over  the  "Pea- 
cock," her  gallant  captain,  James  Lawrence,  was  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  "Chesapeake."  On  reaching  his  ship,  he  found  affairs  in  a 
desperate  condition.  The  sailors  who  had  sailed  on  the  long  and  unpro- 
ductive cruise  were  firmly  convinced  that  the  frigate's  bad  luck  was 
beyond  remedy.  The  term  of  efilistment  of  many  had  e.\pire«j,  and  they 
were  daily  leaving  the  ship.  Those  who  remained  were  sullen,  and  smart- 
ing under  fancied  ill-treatment  in  the  matter  of  the  prize-money.  To  get 
fresh  seamen  was  no  easy  task.  Great  fleets  of  privateers  were  being 
fitted  out ;  and  sailors  generally  preferred  to  sail  in  these  vessels,  in 
which  the  discipline  was  light,  and  the  gains  usually  great.  Some  sailors 
from  the  "Constitution"  were  induced  to  join  the  "Chesapeake;"  and 
these,  with  the  remnant  of  the  frigate's  old  crew,  formed  the  nucleus 
of  a  crew  which  was  filled  up  with  merchant-sailors  and  foreigners  of 
all  nations.  Before  the  lists  were  fairly  filled,  the  ship  put  to  sea,  to 
give  battle  to  an  adversary  that  proved  to  be  her  superior 

The  events  leading  to  the  action  were  simple,  and  succeeded  each 
other  hurriedly.  The  port  of  Boston  was  blockaded  by  two  British 
frigates,  the  "  Tencdos "  thirty-eight,  and  the  "  Shannon "  thirty-eight. 
The  latter  vessel  was  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Philip  Bowes  Vere 
Broke,  a  naval  ofBcer  of  courage,  skill,  and  judgment.  His  crew  was 
thoroughly  disciplined,  and  his  ship  a  model  of  efficiency.  No  officer  in 
the  service  understood  better  than  he  the  difference  between  the  dis- 
cipline of  a  martinet  and  the  discipline  of  a  prudent  and  sagacious  com- 
mander. His  ship  might  not,  like  the  "Peacock,"  merit  the  title  of  "the 
yacht;"  but  for  active  service  she  was  always  prepared.  James,  an 
English  naval  historian,  turns  from  his  usual  occupation  of  explaining 
the  American  naval  victories  by  belittling  the  British  ships,  and  enor- 
mously magnifying  the  power  of  the  victors,  to  speak  as  follows  of  the 
"Shannon :"  — 


*i'  II 


I  III 


'.    4| 


Ml 
Mil 


u 


i'i 


HI 


'•     '  ill 


I  !■;< 


I  ;  !■ 


K  it: 


■i'         i;: 


1^  1 


224 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


"From  the  day  on  which  he  [Capt.  Broke]  joined  her,  the  14th  of 
September,  1806,  the  'Shannon'  began  to  feel  the  effect  of  her  captain's 
proficiency  as  a  gunner,  and  zeal  for  the  service.  The  laying  of  the 
ship's  ordnance  so  that  it  may  be  correctly  fired  in  a  horizontal  direc- 
tion is  justly  deemed  a  most  important  operation,  as  upon  it  depends,  in 
a  great  measure,  the  true  aim  and  destructive  effect  of  the  shot ;  this 
was  attended  to  by  Capt.  Broke  in  person.  By  drafts  from  other  ships, 
and  the  usual  means  to  which  a  British  man-of-war  is  obliged  to  resort, 
the  '  Shannon  '  got  together  a  crew  ;  and  in  the  course  of  a  year  or  two, 
by  the  paternal  care  and  excellent  regulations  of  Capt.  Broke,  the  ship's 
company  became  as  pleasant  to  command  as  it  was  dangerous  to  meet." 
Moreover,  the  historian  goes  on  to  relate  that  the  ship's  guns  were 
carefully  sighted,  and  her  ammunition  frequently  overhauled.  Often  a 
cask  would  be  thrown  overboard,  and  a  gun's  crew  suddenly  called  to 
sink  it  as  it  bobbed  about  on  the  waves  astern.  Practice  with  the  great 
guns  was  of  daily  occurrence.  "  Every  day  for  about  an  hour  and  a  half 
in  the  forenoon,  when  not  prevented  by  chase  or  the  state  of  the 
weather,  the  men  were  exercised  at  training  the  guns  ;  and  for  the  same 
time  in  the  afternoon  in  the  use  of  the  broad-sword,  musket,  pike,  etc. 
Twice  a  week  the  crew  fired  at  targets,  both  with  great  guns  and  mus- 
ketry ;  and  Capt.  Broke,  as  an  additional  stimulus  beyond  the  emulation 
excited,  gave  a  pound  of  tobacco  to  every  man  that  put  a  shot  through 
the  bull's-eye." 

Such  was  the  vessel  that  in  June  appeared  alone  off  the  entrance  to 
Boston  Harbor,  and  by  her  actions  seemed  to  challenge  the  "Chesapeake" 
to  give  her  battle.  Indeed,  Broke's  wish  to  test  the  strength  of  the  two 
vessels  was  so  great,  that  he  sent  in,  by  the  hands  of  an  American 
prisoner,  a  written  challenge,  the  terms  and  spirit  of  which  showed  the 
writer  to  be  a  courageous  and  chivalric  officer  and  gentleman.  "As  the 
'  Chesapeake '  now  appears  ready  for  sea,"  he  wrote,  "  I  request  you  will 
do  me  the  honor  to  meet  the  '  Shannon '  with  her,  ship  to  ship,  to  try 
the  fortunes  of  our  respective  flags.  To  an  officer  of  your  character,  it 
requires  some  apology  for  proceeding  to  further  particulars.     Be  assured, 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1S12. 


225 


sir,  it  is  not  from  any  doubt  I  can  entertain  of  your  wishing  to  close 
with  my  proposal,  but  merely  to  provide  an  answer  to  any  objection 
which  might  be  made,  and  very  reasonably,  upon  the  chance  of  our 
receiving  any  unfair  support."  Capt.  Broke  then  proceeds  to  assure 
Lawrence  that  the  other  British  ships  in  the  neighborhood  would  be 
sent  away  before  the  day  of  combat.  To  the  challenge  was  appended  a 
careful  statement  of  the  strength  of  the  "  Shannon,"  that  Lawrence 
might  understand  that  the  ships  were  fairly  matched. 

But  before  this  challenge  reached  Boston,  Lawre  e  had  set  out  to 
seek  the  enemy.  He  had  seen  the  "  Shannon "  lying  off  the  entrance 
to  the  port ;  and,  finding  out  that  she  was  alone,  he  knew  that  her  pres- 
ence was  in  itself  a  challenge  that  he  could  not  honorably  ignore.  Nor 
did  he  desire  to  avoid  the  battle  thus  offered.  He  had  confidence  in  his 
crew,  his  frigate,  and  himself,  and  looked  for  nothing  but  victory.  To 
the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  he  wrote,  "  An  English  frigate  is  now  in 
sight  from  my  deck.  I  have  sent  a  pilot-boat  out  to  reconnoitre ;  and, 
should  she  be  alone,  I  am  in  hopes  to  give  a  good  account  of  her  before 
night.  My  crew  appear  to  be  in  fine  spirits,  and  I  hope  will  do  their 
duty." 

In  truth,  however,  the  condition  of  this  same  crew  was  such  that  the 
captain  would  have  been  justified  in  refusing  the  challenge.  An  unusual 
number  of  foreign  sailors  were  enrolled,  among  whom  was  a  Portuguese, 
who,  in  the  ensuing  battle,  did  incalculable  injury  to  the  cause  of  the 
"Chesapeake."  The  crew  had  never  drilled  together;  many  of  the  sailors 
came  on  board  only  a  few  hours  before  the  ship  sailed  out  to  battle. 
All  the  old  sailors  were  sullen  over  the  delay  in  the  payment  of  the 
prize-money  of  their  last  cruise.  Lawrence  attempted  to  allay  their  dis- 
content by  giving  them  checks  for  the  prize-money ;  but  the  sense  of 
injury  still  lingered  in  the  minds  of  the  men,  and  they  were  ill-fitted  to 
do  battle  for  the  honor  of  the  flag.  Added  to  this  evil  was  the  fact  that 
the  first  and  second  lieutenants  and  two  acting  lieutenants  were  away 
on  sick-leave,  and  the  ship  was  thus  left  short  of  officers  on  the  eve  of 
battle. 


■  i 


I 


in 


ri         ' 


I 


226 


HLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


•  ; 


Regardless  of  the  disadvantages  under  which  he  labored,  Lawrence 
weighed  anchor  on  the  ist  of  June,  and  started  down  the  harbor.  As 
he  approached  the  ocean,  Lawrence  mustered  his  crew  aft,  and  eloquently 
urged  them  to  fight  bravely,  and  do  their  duty  to  the  country,  which  had 
entered  upon  this  war  in  defence  of  seamen  and  their  rights.  Three 
ensigns  were  run  up ;  and  at  the  fore  was  unfurled  a  broad  white  flag, 
bearing  the  motto,  "  F"rek  Trade  a\u  Sailors'  Rights."  When  Law- 
rence closed  his  speech,  and  pointed  out  the  flag  floating  at  the  fore, 
the  men  cheered  and  went  forward,  leaving  the  captain  convinced  that 
he  could  depend  upon  their  loyalty. 

The  morning  was  bright  and  cool,  with  a  fresh  breeze  blowing,  before 
which  the  "  Chesapeake "  rapidly  bore  down  upon  the  foe  that  awaited 
her.  Following  cautiously  in  her  track  came  a  number  of  small  craft, 
—  pilot-boats,  sloops,  fishing-smacks,  and  pleasure-boats, — that  had  come 
down  the  bay  to  see  the  outcome  of  the  battle.  Hundreds  of  people  of 
Boston  rode  along  the  coast,  in  hopes  of  gaining  an  outlook  from  which 
the  progress  of  the  fight  might  be  viewed. 

At  noon  the  ship  rounded  Boston  Light,  and  made  out  into  the  open 
sea.  The  "  Shannon  "  went  ahead,  under  ea.sy  sail,  making  up  the  coast 
toward  Salem.  Towards  five  o'clock  the  "Chesapeake"  luffed  up  for  a 
moment ;  while  the  pilot  clambered  down  the  side,  and  put  off  in  a  small 
boat.  A  gun  was  then  fired,  as  a  signal  that  the  Americans  were  ready 
for  action. 

The  "  Shannon "  evidently  understood  the  purport  of  the  signal ;  for 
she  quickly  hove  to,  and  troops  of  agile  jackies  clambered  up  her  rigging, 
and  began  to  take  in  sail.  The  "Chesapeake"  followed  suit,  and  was 
soon  under  only  top-sails  and  jib.  She  then  laid  her  course  straight  for 
the  enemy. 

A  ship  preparing  for  action  in  that  day  was  a  scene  of  hurry  and 
confusion  that  cannot  be  equalled  in  this  era  of  machinery  and  few  guns. 
At  the  short,  broken,  rolling  beat  of  the  drums,  calling  the  men  to  quar- 
ters, the  hurried  rush  of  hundreds  of  feet  began,  as  the  men  came  pour- 
ing from  all  parts  of  the  ship   to  their  posts.     Some   clambered   aloft  to 


BLUK-JACKl'TS   OF    1812. 


their  stations  in  the  tops  ;  others  invaded  the  sanctity  of  the  quarter-deck 
and  captain's  cabin,  where  several  guns  are  always  mounted,  liut  the 
niofit  stirring  scene  is  on  the  long  gun- 
deck,  where  the  men  gradually  fall  into 
their  places  at  the  two  long  rows  of  great 
guns  that  peer  through  the  open  ports  on 
either  side.  All  are  stripped  to  the  waist ; 
and  at  many  a  gun  the 
fair  skin  of  the  Ameri- 
can sailor  gleams  white 
by  the  side  of  some 
swarthy  Spaniard,  or 
still  darker  negro.  All 
quiet  down  on  reaching 
their  stations  ;  and,  five 
minutes  after  the  drum- 
beats, no  sound  is  heard, 
save  perhaps  the  steps 
of  the  black  boys,  tak- 
ing rations  of  grog 
around,  that  the  men 
may  "  splice  the  main 
brace  "  before  going  in- 
to the  fight. 

Thus  silently  did 
the  "Chesapeake"  bear 
down  upon  her  adver- 
sary. There  was  no  long- 
range  firing  ;  for  the  two 
commanders  were  vet- 
erans, whose  chief  desire  was  to  settle  the  dispute  yard-arm  to  yard-arm. 
Gradually  the  American  ship  ranged  alongside  the  "  Shannon,"  at  a  distance 
of  half  pistol-shot ;  and,  as  her  fore-mast  came  in  a  line  with  the  "  Shan. 


BEATING  TO  QV  • 


■.RS. 


Il   ! 


!     i  : 


■'         'i.  j ' 


jP  I 


% ' 


228 


J3IA'K-|A(Ki;rs   ()!•'    181 2. 


non's  "  mizzcn-mast,  the  latter  opened  fire  with  her  cabin-guns.  For  a  mo- 
ment the  "Chesapeake"  was  silent,  waiting  for  her  guns  to  bear;  then,  with 
sulphuric  flashes  and  a  thunderous  roar,  she  let  fly  her  whole  broadside. 
Then  followed  a  duel  with  great  guns.  The  two  ships,  lying  sitle  b\- 
side,  dealt  and  received  staggering  blows.  The  spectators  in  small  boats, 
who  i\ept  a  safe  distance,  and  the  crowds  of  eager  watchers  on  the 
far  i)ff  heights  of  Salem,  saw  through  their  spy-glasses  the  flash  of  the 
first  broadsides,  and  the  flying  splinters  that  followed  the  course  of 
the  deadly  shot.  Then  a  heavy  cloud  of  yellow  smoke  settled  over  the 
warring  leviathans,  and  all  further  incidents  of  the  battle  were  shut  out 
from  view.  Only  the  top-masts  of  the  ships,  with  the  half-furled  sails 
and  the  opposing  ensigns  flying,  could  be  seen  above  the  smoke. 

Under  this  vaporous  pall,  the  fighting  was  sharp  and  desperate.  The 
first  broadside  of  the  "Shannon"  so  swept  the  decks  of  the  American 
frigate,  that,  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  quartered  on  the  upper  deck, 
not  fifty  were  upon  their  legs  when  the  terrible  rush  of  the  shot  was 
over.  The  sailors  in  the  tops  of  the  British  frigate,  looking  down  upon 
the  decks  of  their  enemy,  could  sec  nothing  but  a  cloud  of  hammocks, 
splinters,  anil  wreckage  of  all  kinds,  driven  fiercely  across  the  deck. 
Both  men  at  the  wheel  fell  dead,  but  their  places  were  scon  filled  ;  while 
fresh  gunners  rushed  down  to  work  the  guns  that  had  been  silenced  by 
the  enemy's  fearful  broadside.  In  a  moment  the  "Chesapeake  "  responiled 
with  spirit,  and  for  some  time  broadsides  were  exchanged  with  incon- 
ceivable rapidity.  The  men  encouraged  each  other  with  cheers  and 
friendly  cries.  They  had  named  the  guns  of  the  frigate,  and  with  each 
telling  shot  they  cheered  the  iron-throated  monster  which  had  hurled  the 
bolt.  "Wilful  Alurder,"  "Spitfire,"  "Revenge,"  ''Bull  Dog,"  "Mad 
Anthony,"  "Defiance,"  "Raging  Eagle,"  and  "Viper"  were  some  of  the 
titles  born  by  the  great  guns  ;  and  well  the  weapons  bore  out  the  names 
thus  bestowed  upon  them.  The  gunnery  of  the  Americans  was  good,  their 
shot  doing  much  damage  to  the  enemy's  rigging.  But  the  effect  of  the 
"  Shannon's "  broadsides  was  such  that  no  men,  however  brave,  could 
stand  before  them.     They  swept  the   decks,  mowing   down   brave   fellows 


I;! 


Mi 


Ml 


I 


,1 


!    ! 


;:'  i; 


THE  DEATH  OF   LAWRENCE. 


I  !l 


^1 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


231 


by  the  score.  Officers  fell  on  every  side.  At  a  critical  moment  the  two 
ships  fouled,  exposing  the  "  Chesapeake "  to  a  raking  broadside,  which 
beat  in  her  stern-ports,  and  drove  the  gunners  from  the  after-port.  At 
this  moment,  Lawrence  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  but  remained  at  his 
post  and  ordered  that  the  boarders  be  called  up.  Unhappily  a  negro 
bugler  had  been  detailed  for  the  duty  usually  performed  by  drummers ; 
and,  at  this  important  moment,  he  could  not  be  found.  AJdshipmen  and 
lieutenants  ran  about  the  ship,  striving  to  call  up  the  boarders  by  word 
of  mouth.  In  the  confusion,  the  bugler  was  found  skulking  under  the 
stem  of  the  launch,  and  so  paralyzed  by  fear  that  he  could  only  give  a 
feeble  blast  upon  his  instrument.  In  the  din  and  confusion  of  battle, 
the  oral  orders  of  the  officers  only  perplexed  the  men  ;  and  the  moment 
for  boarding  was  lost.  At  that  very  moment,  the  turning-point  of  the 
conflict,  Capt.  Lawrence  was  struck  by  a  musket-ball,  and  fell  mortally 
wounded  to  the  deck.  His  officers  rushed  to  his  side,  and,  raising  him 
gently,  were  carrying  him  below,  when  in  a  firm  voice  he  cried,  — 

"Tell  the  men  to  fire  faster,  and  not  give  up  the  ship.  Fight  her 
till  she  sinks." 

With  these  words  on  his  lips,  he  was  carried  to  the  ward-room. 

At  this  moment,  the  upper  deck  was  left  without  an  officer  abo\  ^  the 
rank  of  midshipman.  The  men,  seeing  their  captain  carried  below,  fell 
into  a  panic,  which  was  increased  by  the  explosion  of  an  arm-chest,  into 
which  a  hand-grenade,  hurled  by  a  sailor  lying  out  on  the  yard-arm  of 
the  "Shannon,"  had  fallen.  Seeing  that  the  fire  of  the  Americans  had 
slackened,  Capt.  Hroke  left  his  quarter-deck,  and,  running  hastily  forward, 
gained  a  position  on  the  bow  of  his  ship  from  which  he  could  look 
down  upon  the  decks  of  the  "Chesapeake."  His  practised  eye  quickly 
perceived  the  confusion  on  the  deck  of  the  American  frigate ;  and  he 
instantly  ordered  that  the  ships  be  lashed  together,  and  the  boarders 
called  up.  An  old  quartermaster,  a  veteran  in  the  British  navy,  set 
about  hashing  the  ships  together,  and  accomplished  his  task,  although 
his  right  arm  was  actually  hacked  off  by  the  cutlas.i  of  an  American 
sailor.     The  boarders  were  slow  in  coming   up,  and    but   twenty  men    fol- 


fi  11 


F  ! 


r    I 

lie 


232 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


lowed  Broke  as  he  climbed  to  the  deck  of  the  "Chesapeake."  ]^roke 
led  his  men  straight  for  the  quarter-deck  of  the  frigate.  The  Americans 
offered  but  little   resistance.     Not    an    oflficer  was   in   sight   to   guide   the 


I'  M 


// 


'l\      !  . 


ON  BOARD  THE  "CHESAPEAKE." 

men,  and  the  newly  enlisted  sailors  and  foreigners  fled  like  sheep  before 
the  advance  of  the  boarders. 

The  British  reached  the  quarter-deck  vvith  hardly  the  loss  of  a  man. 
Here  stood  Mr.  Liverniore,  the  chaplain  of  the  "  Chesapeake,"  who  had 
cruised    long   with    Lawrence,   and    bitterly   mourned    the   captain's  fate. 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


o  -^  •! 


Determined  to  avenge  the  fallen  captain,  he  fired  a  pistol  at  Broke's 
head,  but  missed  him.  Broke  sprang  forward,  and  dealt  a  mighty  stroke 
of  his  keen  cutlass  at  the  chaplain's  head,  who  saved  himself  by  taking 
the  blow  on  his  arm.  While  the  boarders  were  thus  traversing  the  upper 
deck,  the  sailors  in  the  tops  of  the  "Chesapeake"  were  keeping  up  a 
well-directed  fire,  before  which  many  of  the  Englishmen  fell.  But  this 
resistance  was  not  of  long  duration  ;  for  one  of  the  "  Shannon's "  long 
nines,  loaded  with  grape,  swept  clean  the  "Chesapeake's"  tops.  With 
this,  the  British  were  in  full  control  of  the  upper  deck. 

Up  to  this  time,  the  Americans  on  the  gun-deck  had  known  nothing 
of  the  events  occurring  on  the  deck  above  them.  When  the  news  of 
the  British  as.sau.t  spread,  Lieut.  Budd  called  upon  the  men  to  follow 
him,  and  drive  the  boarders  back  to  their  own  ship.  A  number  of  the 
marines  (who  behaved  splendidly  throughout  the  fight)  and  some  twenty 
veteran  sailors  were  all  that  responded  to  the  call.  Broke  had  in  the 
mean  time  summoned  the  marines  of  the  "  Shannon "  to  his  aid ;  and 
the  British,  led  by  their  dashing  commander,  were  pouring  in  a  dense 
column  down  the  companion-ways  to  the  gun-deck.  Budd  and  his  hand- 
ful of  followers  attacked  them  fiercely  ;  and,  by  the  very  desperation  of 
the  onset,  the  British  were  forced  back  a  few  paces.  Broke  threw  him- 
self upon  the  Americans.  With  his  cutlass  he  cut  down  the  first  man 
who  attacked  him,  and  bore  down  upon  the  others,  dealing  deadly  blows 
right  and  left.  His  followers  came  close  behind  him.  The  Americans 
fell  on  every  side,  and  began  to  retreat  before  the  overwhelming  force 
of  their  foes.  Up  from  the  wardroom  came  Lieut.  Ludlow,  already  suffer- 
ing from  two  dangerous  wounds,  lie  placed  himself  beside  the  younger 
officer,  and  the  two  strove  in  every  way  to  encourage  their  men  But 
Ludlow  soon  fell,  with  a  gaping  wound  across  his  forehead.  Budd  was 
cut  down,  and  fell  through  the  hatchway  to  the  deck  beneath.  The 
sailors,  seeing  both  officers  fall,  gave  way  in  confusion  ;  anil  the  ship  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  British.  A  fi  w  marines  kept  up  a  fire  through  the 
hatchway,  but  soon  were  silenced. 

An   English  officer,  Lieut.  Watts,  ran   to  the   halliards   to  haul   down 


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234 


15LUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


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the  American  flag.  But  it  would  seem  that  the  good  genius  which  had 
watched  over  that  starry  banner  throughout  the  war  was  loath  to  see  it 
disgraced  ;  for  the  officer  had  hardly  finished  his  work,  when  a  grape-shot 
from  his  own  ship  struck  him,  and  he  fell  dead. 

The  noise  of  the  battle  had  by  this  time  died  away,  and  the  fresh 
breezes  soon  carried  off  the  smoke  that  enveloped  the  combatants.  It 
was  an  awful  scene  thus  exposed  to  view.  On  the  "  Chesapeake "  were 
sixty-one  killed,  and  eighty-five  wounded  men.  On  the  "  Shannon  "  were 
thirty-three  dead,  and  fifty  wounded.  On  a  cot  in  the  wardroom  lay  Capt. 
Lawrence,  his  mortal  wound  having  mercifully  rendered  him  unconscious, 
so  that  he  knew  nothing  of  the  loss  of  his  ship.  Broke  had  been  made 
delirious  by  the  fevered  throbbing  of  the  wound  he  had  so  long  neglected. 
Everywhere  were  evidences  of  carnage  and  desolation. 

Little  time  was  lost  in  getting  the  ships  in  order  after  the  surrender. 
The  noise  of  the  hammer  and  saw  was  heard  in  every  quarter.  The 
wounded  were  taken  to  the  sick-bay,  and  the  bodies  of  the  dead  were 
committed  to  the  ocean.  Floods  of  water  and  the  heavy  holystones  took 
from  the  decks  the  stains  of  blood.  The  galley  cooks  marched  up  and 
down  the  decks,  sprinkling  hot  vinegar  with  a  lavish  hand.  The  British 
prize-crew  took  possession  of  the  captured  ship,  and  in  a  few  hours  the 
captor  and  ca.ptive  were  well  on  their  way  toward  Halifax. 

They  reached  port  on  the  7th  of  June ;  and  the  sight  of  the  "  Shan- 
non," followed  by  the  "  Chesapeake "  with  the  British  ensign  flying 
proudly  over  the  stars  and  stripes,  stirred  the  little  city  to  the  utmost 
enthusiasm.  As  the  two  ships  pursued  their  stately  course  up  the  harbor, 
the  British  men-of-war  on  all  sides  manned  their  yards,  and  fired  salutes 
in  honor  of  the  victory.  The  thunders  of  the  cannon  brought  the  town's- 
peoplc  to  the  water-side,  and  their  cheers  rang  out  lustily  to  welcome 
their  conquering  countrymen  to  port. 

Capt.  Lawrence  had  died  the  day  before ;  and  his  body,  wrapped  in 
an  American  flag,  lay  on  the  quarter-deck  of  his  frigate.  Three  days 
later,  his  body,  with  that  of  his  gallant  lieutenant  Ludlow,  was  laid  to 
rest  with  imposing  naval  honors,  in  the  churchyard  of   Halifa.x.     But   his 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


235 


country,  honoring  him  even  in  the  day  of  his  defeat,  was  not  content 
that  his  body  should  lie  in  the  soil  of  an  enemy's  country.  Two  months 
after  the  battle,  an  American  vessel,  the  "  Henry  "  of  Salem,  entered  the 
harbor  of  Halifax,  under  cover  of  a  flag  of  truce,  and  took  on  board 
the  bodies  of  Lawrence  and  Ludlow.  They  were  conveyed  first  to  Salem 
and  later  to  New  York,  where  they  now  lie  under  a  massive  monument 
of  sandstone,  in  a  corner  of  Trinity  churchyard.  A  few  feet  away,  the 
ceaseless  tide  of  human  life  rolls  on  its  course  up  and  down  IJroadway ; 
few  of  the  busy  men  and  women  pausing  to  remember  that  in  the 
ancient  churchyard  lies  the  body  of  the  man  whose  dying  words,  "Don't 
give  up  the  ship,"  were  for  years  the  watchword  and  motto  of  the 
United  States  navy. 


ii  n 


CHAPTER    X. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  "  ESSEX."  -  A  RICH  PRIZE. —THE  MYSTERIOUS  LETTER.  — CAPE  HORN 
ROUNDED. —  CAPTURE  OF  A  PERUVIAN  PRIVATEER.  —  AMONG  THE  BRITISH  WHALERS. - 
PORTER  IN  C().MMAND  OF  A  SQUADRON.- A  BOY  COMMANDER. -THE  SQUADRON  LAVS 
UP  AT  NOOKAHEEVAH. 


IIILE  the  events  related  in  the  two  preceding  chapters  were 
occurring  along  the  American  coast,  a  few  gallant  vessels 
were  upholding  the  honor  of  the  stars  and  stripes  in  far  distant 
lands.  To  cruise  in  waters  frequented  by  an  enemy's  merchant- 
men, and  capture,  burn,  sink,  and  destroy,  is  always  a  legitimate  occupa- 
tion for  the  navy  of  a  belligerent  nation.  Yet  the  nation  suffering  at 
the  hands  of  the  cruisers  invariably  raises  the  cry  of  "wanton  vandalism 
and  cruelty,"  and  brands  the  ofificers  to  whom  falls  so  unplea.sant  a  duty 
with  the  name  of  pirates.  Such  was  the  outcry  raised  against  Paul 
Jones  in  the  Revolutionary  war;  so  it  was  the  British  described  the 
l)rilliaiit  service  of  the  little  brig  "Argus"  in  1813  ;  and  so  the  people 
of  the  North  regarded  the  career  of  the  "Alabama"  and  other  Con- 
federate cruisers  in  the  great  war  for  the  Union.  But  perhaps  no  ship 
236 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


237 


i 


7 


had  ever  a  more  adventurous  career,  or  wrought  more  damage  to  the 
enemy's  commerce,  than  the  United  States  frigate  "  Lssex,"  under 
the  command  of  the  able  officer  David  Porter. 

Of  the  circumstances  which  led  to  the  famous  cruise  of  the  "  Essex," 
some  account  has  already  been  given.  With  a  full  crew,  and  stores 
enough  to  enable  her  to  keep  the  sea  for  some  months,  the  ship  set  sail 
from  the  Delaware  in  the  autumn  of  18 12,  and  headed  to  the  southward 
with  the  intention  of  joining  the  "  Constitution "  and  "  Hornet  "  at  some 
point  in  the  tropics.  Her  first  point  of  call  was  at  Porto  Praya,  a 
harbor  in  the  Cape  Verd  Islands.  To  the  captain's  disappointment,  he 
could  learn  nothing  of  Bainbridge  at  this  place ;  and  he  f  oon  departed, 
nfter  scrupulously  exchanging  salutes  with  a  rickety  little  fort,  over 
which  floated  the  flag  of  Portugal.  Continuing  her  southward  way,  the 
"Essex"  crossed  the  equator,  on  which  occasion  the  jolly  tars  enjoyed 
the  usual  ceremonies  attendant  upon  crossing  the  line.  Father  Neptune 
and  his  faithful  spouse,  with  their  attendant  suite,  came  aboard  and  super- 
intended the  operation  of  shaving  and  dowsing  the  green  hands,  whose 
voyages  had  never  called  them  before  into  the  Southern  seas.  Capt. 
Porter  looked  upon  the  frolic  indulgently.  He  was  well  known  as  a 
captain  who  never  unnecessarily  repressed  the  light-heartedness  of  his 
crew.  Two  hours  daily  were  set  aside  during  which  the  crew  were  free 
to  amuse  themselves  in  any  reasonable  way.  At  four  o'clock  every  after- 
noon, the  shrill  piping  of  the  boatswains  whistle  rang  through  the  ship, 
followed  by  the  cry,  "  D'ye  hear  there,  fore  and  aft .'  All  hands  skylark  !  " 
No  order  ever  brought  a  quicker  response,  and  in  a  minute  the  decks  be- 
came a  perfect  pandemonium.  The  sailors  rushed  here  and  there,  clad  in 
all  sorts  of  clothes  ;  boxed,  fenced,  wrestled  ;  ran  short  foot-races  ;  played 
at  leap-frog,  and  generally  comported  themselves  like  children  at  play. 
Fights  were  of  common  occurrence  ;  and  the  two  combatants  soon  became 
the  centre  of  an  interested  ring  of  spectators,  who  cheered  on  their  favorites 
with  loud  cries  of  "Go  it.  Bill.  Now,  Jack,  lively  with  yer  left."  But  a  sailor 
has  no  better  friend  to-day  than  the  man  he  fought  yesterday  ;  and  the  fights, 
like  the  play,  only  kept  the  crew  in  good  spirits  and  contentment. 


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IJLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


The  (lay  after  crossing  the  equator,  the  "  Essex  "  sighted  a  sail  and 
gave  chase.  Towards  evening  the  frigate  had  gained  greatly  upon  the 
stranger,  and  Porter  displayed  all  the  British  signals  which  he  had  in  his 
possession.  The  chase  made  no  response,  but  set  a  British  ensign.  By 
nine  o'clock,  the  "  Essex  "  was  within  nuiskct-shot,  and  could  easily  have 
blown  the  fugitive  out  of  water ;  but  this  Porter  was  loath  to  do,  as  he 
desired  to  take  the  brig  without  doing  her  any  injury.  However,  as  she 
showed  no  signs  of  surrendering,  he  ordered  the  marines  to  give  her  a 
volley  of  musketry.  One  man  on  the  chase  was  killed,  and  a  number 
wounded,  upon  which  her  flag  was  immediately  hauled  down.  She  proved 
to  be  the  British  packet  "  Nocton  "  of  ten  guns.  In  her  hold  was  found 
fifty-five  thousand  dollars  in  specie,  which  was  at  once  taken  on  board 
the  "  Essex  ; "  and  the  "  Nocton  "  was  sent  to  the  United  States  under 
the  charge  of  a  prize-crew.  Before  she  could  make  a  port,  she  fell  in 
with  a  British  man-of-war,  and  was  captured  after  a  few  hours'  chase. 

Two  days  after  parting  with  the  "  Nocton,"  the  "  Essex "  hove  in 
sight  of  the  Island  of  I'ernando  Noronha,  off  the  coast  of  Brazil.  P'or 
a  time  the  frigate  abandoned  her  warlike  character,  battened  down  her 
ports,  housed  her  guns,  hid  her  large  crew  between  decks,  and  sailed 
into  the  little  harbor  looking  like  a  large  but  peaceable  British  merchant- 
man. An  officer  clad  in  plain  clothes  went  ashore,  and,  meeting  the 
governor,  stated  that  the  ship  was  the  "  Fanny "  of  London,  bound  for 
Rio  Janeiro.  During  the  conversation,  the  governor  remarked  that  His 
liritish  Majesty's  ships,  the  "Acosta"  forty-four,  and  the  "Morgiana" 
twenty,  had  but  recently  sailed  from  the  port,  and  had  left  a  letter  for 
Sir  James  Veo,  requesting  that  it  be  forwarded  to  England  as  soon  as 
possible.  With  this  news,  the  lieutenant  returned  to  the  ship.  On  hear- 
ing his  report,  Porter  at  once  surmised  that  the  letter  might  have  been 
left  for  him  by  Commodore  Bainbridge  ;  and  he  at  once  sent  the  officer 
back,  bearing  the  message  that  the  "  Fanny "  was  .soon  going  to  London, 
and  her  captain  would  see  the  letter  delivered  to  Sir  James  Yeo,  in 
person.  The  unsuspecting  governor  accordingly  delivered  up  the  epistle, 
and  it  was  soon  in   Porter's  hands.     The  note  read  as  follows:  — 


BLUK-JACKpyrS   OF    1812. 


239 


My  Dear  Mediterranean  Friend,  —  Probably  you  may  stop  here.  Don't  attempt 
to  water:  it  is  attended  with  too  many  difficulties.  I  learned,  before  I  left  Eiig- 
lani/,  that  you  were  bound  to  Brazil  coast.  If  so,  perhaps  we  may  meet  at  St. 
Salvador  or  at  Rio  Janeiro.  I  should  be  hajjpy  to  meet  and  converse  on  our  old 
affairs  of  captivity.     Recollect  our  secret  in  those  times. 

Your  friend  of  His  Majesty's  ship  "Acosta," 


KERR. 


Sir  James  Veo  of  Ills  British  Majesty's  ship  "  Southampton." 


Porter  read  and  pondered  over  this  perplexing  letter.  He  felt  .sure 
that  the  letter  was  from  Bainbridge ;  and  in  the  allusion  to  St.  Salvador 
and  Rio  Janeiro,  he  perceived  the  commodore's  wish  for  a  rendezvous  at 
one  of  those  places.  But  what  could  be  the  secret  of  the  times  of  cap- 
tivity.' Suddenly  a  thought  struck  him.  Might  there  not  be  something 
written  in  sympathetic  ink.?  Hurriedly  calling  for  a  candle,  he  held  the 
letter  above  its  flame,  and  saw,  under  the  influence  of  the  heat,  words 
and  sentences  appearing  where  before  all  was  blank  paper. 

"  I  am  bound  off  St.  Salvador,"  it  read  ;  "  thence  off  Cape  Frio,  where 
I  intend  to  cruise  until  the  ist  of  January.  Go  off  Cape  Frio  to  the 
northward  of  Rio,  and  keep  a  lookout  for  me." 

That  afternoon  the  governor  of  the  island,  looking  out  toward  the 
harbor,  was  surprised  to  see  the  "Fanny"  standing  out  under  a  full 
spread  of  canvas.  Porter  had  gained  all  the  information  that  he  wished, 
and  was  off  in  search  of  his  consorts.  This  search  he  continued  until 
the  20th  of  January,  cruising  up  and  down  off  the  Brazilian  coast,  and 
taking  one  or  two  small  prizes.  In  this  unprofitable  service  the  ship's 
stores  were  being  rapidly  consumed.  Among  other  things,  the  supply 
of  rum  began  to  run  short  ;  and  in  connection  with  this  occurred  a 
curious  incident,  that  well  illustrates  the  character  of  sailors.  The  daily 
rations  of  bread  were  reduced  one-half,  and  the  rations  of  salt  meat  one- 
third,  without  a  word  of  remonstrance  from  the  patient  crew.  Ne.xt  the 
discovery  was  made  that  the  rum  was  giving  out,  and  a  proportional  reduc- 
tion in  the  rations  of  grog  was  duly  ordered.     The  jackies  put  in  a  vigor- 


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240 


BLUK-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


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ous  and  immediate  protest.  They  were  prepared,  they  said,  to  go  without 
grog,  should  the  supply  of  rum  be  unhappily  exhausted ;  but  so  long  as 
any  of  the  precious  fluid  remained,  their  rations  of  grog  should  not  be 
curtailed.  Hut  to  this  Porter  would  not  accede,  fearing  that,  should  the 
men  be  altogether  deprived  of  their  grog,  the  health  of  the  crew  might 
suffer.  Accordingly,  when  the  crew  were  piped  to  "splice  the  main  brace" 
the  ne.\t  day,  they  were  told  that  half  rations  only  would  be  issued  ;  and, 
if  the  grog  was  not  taken  up  in  fifteen  minutes,  the  tub  would  be  over- 
turned, and  the  rum  spilled  into  the  sea.  So  dire  a  threat  was  too  much 
for  the  rebellious  seamen  :  they  sprang  into  line,  with  their  tin  cups,  and 
drew  their  curtailed  rations  without  more  ado. 

Some  days  after  this  occurrence,  the  "Esse.x"  overhauled  a  Portuguese 
vessel,  from  the  captain  of  which  Porter  learned  that  an  American  frigate 
had  shortly  before  fought  and  sunk  an  English  frigate  off  the  coast  of 
Brazil ;  also,  that  it  was  rumored  that  an  American  corvette  of  twenty-two 
guns  had  been  brought  into  Rio,  a  prize  to  a  British  seventy-four.  This 
intelligence  placed  Capt.  Porter  in  some  perplexity.  He  felt  convinced 
that  the  successful  American  frigate  was  the  "  Constitution ; "  a  con- 
jecture in  which  he  was  correct,  for  the  news  referred  to  the  celebrated 
action  of  that  ship  with  the  "Java."  The  captured  American  corvette, 
he  concluded,  must  be  the  "Hornet;"  but  herein  the  captain  was  wrong, 
for  the  "Hornet  "  was  at  that  moment  blockading  the  "Bonne  Citoyenne." 

Porter  now  found  it  necessary  to  decide  upon  a  course  of  action. 
The  news  which  he  had  received  made  it  appear  most  improbable  that 
he  would  fall  in  with  either  of  the  United  States  vessels  for  which  he 
was  seeking.  He  was  far  from  home,  cruising  in  seas  much  frequented 
by  British  men-of-war.  There  were  no  naval  stations  or  outposts  belong- 
ing to  the  United  States,  into  which  he  could  put  for  protection  or 
repairs  ;  for  then,  as  now,  the  nation  ignored  the  necessity  of  such  supply- 
stations.  To  return  home  was  peculiarly  distasteful  to  the  captain,  who 
had  set  sail  with  the  intention  of  undertaking  a  long  cruise.  In  this 
dilemma,  he  wasted  but  little  time  in  thought.  By  rounding  Cape  Horn, 
he  would  carry  the  "  Essex  "  into   the    Pacific  Ocean,  where  British   mer- 


BLUE-JACKETS   OK    1812. 


241 


chantmcn  abounded  and  men-of-war  were  few.  It  was  an  adventurous 
and  a  perilous  expedition  to  undertake ;  but  Porter,  haviuj^  decided  upon 
it,  wasted  no  time  in  getting  under  way.  That  very  night  he  took  his 
ship  out  of  the  snug  harbor  of  St.  Catherine's,  and  started  upon  his  long 
voyage  around  the  Horn. 

A  winter  voyage  around  Cape  Horn,  even  in  the  stoutest  of  ships,  is 
an  undertaking  to  be  dreaded  by  the  most  courageous  seamen.  Tlie 
"  Esse.x "  seemed  to  meet  with  more  than  lier  share  of  stormy  weather. 
From  the  night  when  she  set  sail  from  St.  Catherine's,  until  she  dropped 
anchor  in  a  harbor  of  the  Island  of  IMocha,  almost  every  day  witnessed 
a  struggle  for  supremacy  between  the  raging  ocean  on  the  one  side,  and 
skilful  seamanship  and  nautical  science  on  the  other.  Capt.  Porter,  how- 
ever, proved  himself  ready  for  every  emergency.  No  peril  of  the  deep 
was  unforeseen,  no  ounce  of  prevention  unprovided.  The  safety  of  his 
ship,  and  the  health  of  his  men,  were  ever  in  his  thoughts  ;  and  accord- 
ingly,  when  the  "Essex"  rounded  into  the  Pacific  Ocean,  both  men  and 
ship  were  in  condition  to  give  their  best  service  to  the  enterprise  in 
which  they  were  embarked. 

After  rounding  Cape  Horn,  the  "  Essex "  made  her  way  northward 
along  the  desolate  coast  of  Chili,  until  she  reached  the  Island  of  Mocha. 
Here  she  anchored  for  a  day,  giving  the  crew  a  much  needed  run  on 
shore,  which  they  enjoyed  with  all  the  zest  of  schoolboys  out  for  a  day's 
holiday.  The  island  afforded  little  in  the  way  of  fresh  stores  ;  but  some 
pigs  and  horses  were  shot,  and  devoured  with  gusto  by  men  who  for 
over  two  months  had  not  tasted  fresh  meat.  From  this  point  the  frigate 
made  for  Valparaiso,  and,  after  reconnoitrmg  the  port,  put  in  for  water 
and  stores.  The  officers  were  received  with  much  hospitality  by  the 
townspeople,  and,  after  a  few  days'  stay,  were  tendered  a  complimentary 
ball,  —  an  entertainment  into  which  the  young  officers  entered  with  great 
glee.  Rut,  unhappily  for  their  evening's  pleasure,  the  dancing  had  hardly 
begun,  when  a  midshipman  appeared  at  the  door  of  the  hall,  and 
announced  that  a  large  frigate  was  standing  into  the  harbor.  Deserting 
their  fair   partners,  the   people   of  the  "  Essex  "  hastened   to   their   ship, 


K   ' 


242 


BLUK-JACKETS  OK    1812. 


H 


U  I 


and  were  soon  in  readiness  for  the  action ;  while  the  townspeople  thronged 
the  hills  overlooking  the  sea,  in  the  hopes  of  seeing  a  naval  duel.  Hut 
the  frigate  proved  to  be  a  Spaniard  ;  and,  of  course,  no  action  oc- 
curred. 

The  "  Essex "  remained  several  days  at  Valparaiso,  and  during  her 
stay  two  or  three  American  whalers  put  into  the  harbor.  From  the 
captains  of  these  craft,  Porter  learned  that  the  Peruvians  were  sending  out 
privateers  to  prey  upon  American  commerce,  and  that  much  damage  had 
already  been  done  by  these  marauders,  who  were  no  more  than  pirates, 
since  no  war  existed  between  Peru  and  the  United  States.  Porter 
determined  to  put  an  immediate  stop  to  the  operations  of  the  Peruvian 
cruisers,  and  had  not  long  to  wait  for  an  opportunity.  A  day  or  two 
alter  leaving  Valparaiso,  a  sail  was  sighted  in  the  offing,  which  was  soon 
near  enough  to  be  made  out  a  vessel-of-war,  disguised  as  a  whaler. 
Porter  hung  out  the  English  ensign,  and  caused  an  American  whaler,  with 
which  he  had  that  morning  fallen  in,  to  hoist  a  British  flag  over  the 
stars  and  stripes.  At  this  sight,  the  stranger  hoisted  the  Spanish  flag, 
and  threw  a  shot  across  the  bow  of  the  "Essex."  Porter  responded  by 
a  few  shot  that  whizzed  through  the  rigging  just  above  the  Spaniard's 
deck.  The  latter  thereupon  sent  a  boat  to  the  "Essex;"  and  the  officer 
who  came  aboard,  thinking  that  he  was  on  a  British  man-of-war,  boasted 
of  his  ship's  exploits  among  the  American  whalers.  His  vessel  was  the 
Peruvian  privateer  "  Nereyda "  of  fifteen  guns,  and  she  had  captured  two 
American  whalers,  whose  crews  were  even  then  in  the  hold  of  the  priva- 
teer. He  admitted  that  Peru  had  no  quarrel  with  the  United  States, 
and  no  reason  for  preying  upon  her  commerce.  The  confession,  so 
unsuspectingly  made,  gave  Porter  ample  grounds  for  the  capture  of  the 
offending  vessel.  Curtly  informing  his  astounded  visitor  that  he  was  on 
a  United  States  man-of-war,  Porter  ordered  the  gunners  to  fire  two  shots 
close  to  the  privateer.  This  was  done,  and  the  Peruvian  quickly  hauled 
down  his  colors.  The  American  officers,  on  boarding  the  prize,  found 
twenty-three  American  sailors,  who  had  been  robbed  of  all  that  they 
possessed,   stripped   of   half    their   clothing,   and    thrown    into    the    hold. 


IJLLK-JACKKTS   OF    1.S12. 


243 


These  unfortunate  men  were  released  and  sent  to  the  "  ICssex  ; "  after 
which  all  the  guns  and  ammunition  of  the  privateer  were  thrown  over- 
board, and  the  vessel  ordered  to  return  to  Callao. 


/  ,-^^-,        \  \  V  ^ 


n^jf^ 


r4i 


^  ^  i  .11  :^\  ffi 


\     \   X 


\ 


X 


\ 


THE  PERUVIAN   PRIVATF.EK. 


After  this  act  of  summary  justice,  the  "Essex"  continued  in  her 
northward  course.  She  touched  at  Callao  ;  but,  much  to  the  disappoint- 
ment of  all  on  board,  there  were  no  British  vessels  among  the   shipping 


! 


i  ; 


*  ( 


M 

u\ 


244 


BLur:-jACKi:Ts  of  1812. 


. 


at  that  port.  Nor  could  the  lookouts,  for  sonic  clays,  discern  from  the 
masthead  any  craft  other  than  the  double-hulled  rafts  of  logs,  called 
catamarans,  in  which  the  natives  along  the  Peruvian  coast  make  long 
voyages.  Weary  of  such  continued  ill-luck.  Porter  determined  to  make 
for  the  Galapagos  Islands,  where  it  was  the  custom  of  the  British  whal- 
ing-ships to  rendezvous.  But  it  seemed  that  ill-fortune  was  following 
close  upon  the  "  Essex  ; "  for  she  sailed  the  waters  about  the  Galapagos, 
and  sent  out  boats  to  search  small  bays  and  lagoons,  without  finding  a 
sign  of  a  ship.  Two  weeks  pas?ed  in  this  unproductive  occupation,  and 
Porter  had  determined  to  abandon  the  islands,  when  he  was  roused  from 
his  berth  on  the  morning  of  April  29,  18 13,  by  the  welcome  cry  of 
"Sail,  ho!" 

All  hands  were  soon  on  deck,  and  saw  a  Inrgc  ship  in  the  offing.  All 
sail  was  clapped  on  the  frigate  ;  and  she  set  out  in  hot  pursuit,  flying  the 
Jiritish  ensign  as  a  ruse  to  disarm  suspicion.  As  the  chase  wore  on,  two 
more  sail  were  sighted  ;  and  Porter  knew  that  he  had  fallen  in  with  the 
long-sought  whalers.  He  had  no  doubt  of  his  ability  to  capture  all  three ; 
for  in  those  southern  seas  a  dead  calm  falls  over  the  ocean  every  noon, 
and  in  a  calm  the  boats  of  the  "  lisse.x "  couk'  easily  take  possession 
of  the  whalers,  liy  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  vessel  first  sighted 
was  overhauled,  and  hove  to  in  obedience  to  a  signal  from  the  frigate. 
She  proved  to  be  the  "  Montezuma,"  Capt.  liaxter,  with  a  cargo  of  four- 
teen hunilred  barrels  of  sperm-oil.  Ha.xter  visited  Capt.  Porter  in  his 
cabin,  and  sat  there  unsuspectingly,  giving  the  supposed  British  captain 
information  for  his  aid  in  capturing  American  ships.  The  worthy  whaler 
little  knew,  as  he  chatted  away,  that  his  crew  vas  being  transferred  to 
the  frigate,  and  a  prize-crew  sent  to  take  charge  of  the  "Montezuma." 

Jiy  noon  the  expected  calm  fell  over  the  water  ;  and  the  boats  were 
ordered  away  to  take  jiossession  of  the  two  whalers,  that  lay  motionless 
some  eight  miles  from  the  "  ICsse.x."  The  ilistance  was  soon  passed,  and 
the  two  ships  were  onlered  to  surrender,  which  they  quickly  did,  much 
astonished  to  find  a  United  States  man-of-war  in  that  region.  A  breeze 
jjhortly  after   springing   up,  all   the   prizes    bore   down   upon   the   frigate ; 


■ 


]jlue-j.u:kkts  of  1812. 


545 


,  « 


and  the  gallant  lads  of  the  "  Essex "  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them- 
selves surrounded  with  captured  property  to  the  value  of  nearly  half  a 
million  dollars.  One  of  the  vessels,  the  "Georgiana,"  was  a  good  sailer, 
strongly  huilt,  and  well  fitted  for  a  cruiser.  Accordingly  she  was  armed 
with  sixteen  guns  and  a  number  of  swivels,  and  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieut.  Downes.  With  this  addition  to  his  force,  and  with  the 
other  two  prizes  following  in  his  wake.  Porter  returned  to  the  Galapagos 
Islands.  The  first  sight  of  the  far-off  peaks  of  the  desert  islands  rising 
above  the  water  was  hailed  with  cheers  by  the  sailors,  who  saw  in  the 
Galapagos  not  a  group  of  desolate  and  rocky  islands,  but  a  place  where 
turtle  was  plenty,  and  shore  liberty  almost  unlimited.  I'orter  remained 
some  days  at  the  islands,  urging  the  crew  of  the  "  Es.sex,"  as  well  as  the 
prisoners,  to  spend  much  time  ashore.  Signs  of  the  scurvy  were  evident 
among  the  men,  and  the  captain  well  knew  that  in  no  way  could  the 
dread  disease  be  kept  away  better  than  by  constant  exercise  on  the  sands 
of  the  seashore.  The  sailors  entered  heartily  into  their  captain's  plans, 
and  spent  hours  racing  on  the  beach,  swimming  in  the  surf,  and  wantler- 
ing  over  the  uninhabited  islands. 

After  a  few  days  of  this  sort  of  life,  the  squadron  put  to  sea  again. 
The  "  Georgianna "  now  separated  from  the  fleet,  and  started  on  an 
independent  cruise,  with  orders  for  a  rendezvous  at  certain  specific  times. 
The  "  Essex "  continued  to  hover  about  the  Galapagos,  in  the  hopes 
)f  getting  a  few  more  whalers.  She  had  not  long  to  wait ;  for  the  whale 
ship  "Atlantic"  soon  fell  in  her  way,  and  was  promptly  snapped  up. 
The  captain  of  this  ship  was  a  Nantucket  man,  who  had  deserteil  the 
flag  of  his  country,  to  cruise  under  what  he  thought  to  be  the  more 
l)ovverful  flag  of  Great  Hritain.  Great  was  his  disgust  to  fiml  that  by 
his  treachery  he  had  lost  all  that  he  desireil  to  protect.  While  in  chase 
of  the  "Atlantic,"  a  second  sail  had  been  sighted;  and  to  this  t!ie 
"  ICssex "  now  gave  chase.  Oi\  being  overhauled,  the  stranger  at  first 
made  some  show  of  fighting ;  but  a  shot  or  two  from  the  guns  of  the 
frigate  convinced  him  of  the  folly  of  this  course,  and  he  surrendered  at 
discretion.      The   vessel    proved    to    be    the    whale    ship    letter-of-mar(|ue 


■!■;■  1 


>  I 


i  11 


Mi 

I 


■I 
1 


246 


BLUE-JACKKTS  OF    181 2. 


"  Greenwich  ; "  a  stout  ship,  of  excellent  sailing  qualities.  She  carried 
ten  guns,  and  was  in  every  way  a  valuable  prize. 

Porter  had  now  been  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  about  three  months.  On 
the  24th  of  February,  the  "  Essex,"  solitary  defender  of  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  in  the  Pacific,  had  turned  her  prow  northward  from  Cape 
Horn,  and  embarked  on  her  adventurous  career  in  the  most  mighty  of 
oceans.  Now  in  May,  Porter,  as  he  trod  the  deck  of  his  good  ship,  found 
himself  master  of  a  goodly  squadron  instead  of  one  stanch  frigate.  The 
"  Essex,"  of  course,  led  the  list,  followed  by  the  "  Gcorgianna,"  sixteen 
guns,  forty-two  men;  "Atlantic,"  six  guns,  twelve  men;  "Greenwich," 
ten  guns,  fourteen  men ;  "  Montezuma,"  two  guns,  ten  men ;  "  Policy," 
ten  men.  Of  these  the  "  Georgianna "  had  already  received  her  arma- 
ment and  authority  as  a  war-vessel ;  and  the  "  Atlantic "  showed  such 
seaworthy  qualities  that  Porter  determined  to  utilize  her  in  the  same 
way.  Accordingly  he  set  sail  for  Tumbez,  where  he  hoped  to  get  rid  of 
.some  of  his  prisoners,  perhaps  sell  one  or  two  of  his  prizes,  and  make 
the  necessary  changes  in  the  "Atlantic."  While  on  the  way  to  Tumbez, 
a  Spanish  brig  was  overhauled.  Her  captain  vastly  edified  Capt.  Porter 
by  informing  him  that  the  "  Nereyda,"  a  Peruvian  privateer,  had  recently 
attacked  a  huge  American  frigate,  and  inflicted  great  damage  upon  the 
Yankee.  But  the  frigate  proving  too  powerful,  the  privateer  had  been 
forcul  to  fly,  and  hastened  her  flight  by  throwing  overboard  all  her  guns 
and  ammunition. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  the  "Essex"  with  her  satellites  cast  anchor  in 
the  harbor  of  Tumbez.  The  first  view  of  the  town  satisfied  Porter  that 
his  hopes  of  selling  his  prizes  there  were  without  avail.  A  more  squalid, 
dilapidated  little  seaside  village,  it  would  be  hard  to  find.  Hardly  had 
the  ships  cast  anchor,  when  the  governor  came  off  in  a  boat  to  pay  a 
formal  visit.  Though  clothed  in  rags,  he  had  all  the  dignity  of  a  Span- 
ish hidalgo,  and  strutted  about  the  quarter-deck  with  most  laughable 
.self-importance.  Notwithstanding  his  high  official  station,  this  worthy 
permitted  himself  to  be  propitiated  with  a  present  of  one  hundred 
dollars ;  and  he  left  the  ship,  promising  all  sorts  of  aid  tu  the  Americans. 


1 


BLUE-JACKKTS  OF    1S12. 


247 


( 


Nothing  came  of  it  all,  however ;  and  Porter  failed  to  dispose  of  any  of 
his  prizes.  While  the  "  Essex "  with  her  train  of  captives  lay  in  the 
harbor  at  Tumbez,  the  "Georgianna"  came  into  port,  and  was  greeted 
with  three  cheers  by  the  men  of  the  frigate.  Lieut.  Downes  reported 
that  he  had  captured  three  British  ships,  carrying  in  all  twenty-seven 
guns  and  seventy-five  men.  One  of  the  prizes  had  been  released  on 
parole,  and  the  other  two  were  then  with  the  "Georgianna."  This  adili- 
tion  to  the  number  of  vessels  in  the  train  of  the  "  Esse.\  "  was  somewhat  of 
an  annoyance  to  Capt.  Porter,  who  saw  clearly  that  so  great  a  number 
of  prizes  would  seriously  interfere  with  his  future  movements  against 
the  enemy.  He  accordingly  remained  at  Tumbez  only  long  enough  to 
convert  the  "Atlantic"  into  an  armed  cruiser  under  the  name  of  the 
"  Esse.x  Junior,"  and  then  set  sail,  in  the  hopes  of  finding  some  port 
wherein  he  could  sell  his  embarrassing  prizes.  His  prisoners,  sa\c  alxnit 
seventy-five  who  enrolled  themselves  under  the  American  flag,  wore 
paroled,  and  left  at  Tumbez  ;  and  again  the  little  squadron  put  to  sea. 
The  "  Esse.x  Junior"  was  ordered  to  take  the  "Hector,"  "Catherine," 
"Policy,"  and  "Montezuma"  to  Valparaiso,  and  there  dispose  of  them, 
after  which  she  was  to  meet  the  "  Esse.x "  at  the  Mariiuesas  Islands. 
On  her  way  to  the  rendezvous,  the  "  ICsse.x  "  stopjx'd  again  at  the  (iala- 
pagos  Islands,  where  she  was  lucky  enough  to  find  tlu-  British  whaler 
"  Seringapatam,"  known  as  the  finest  ship  of  the  British  wlialing  lleet. 
By  her  capture,  the  American  whalers  were  rid  of  a  dangerous  enemy; 
for,  though  totally  without  authority  from  the  British  Crown,  the  captain 
of  the  "  Seringapatam  "  had  been  waging  a  predatory  warfare  against 
such  luckless  Americans  as  fell  in  his  path.  Porter  now  armed  this  new 
prize  with  twenty-two  guns,  and  considered  her  a  valuable  addition  to 
his  offensive  force.  She  took  the  i)lace  of  the  "  (ieorgianna,"  which 
vessel  Porter  .sent  back  to  the   Uniteil  States  loaded  with  oil. 

Among  the  embarrassments  which  the  care  of  so  many  prizes  brought 
upon  the  leader  of  the  e.vpedition  was  the  difficulty  of  fimling  command- 
ing officers  for  all  the  vessels.  This  difficulty  was  enhanced  while  the 
flotilla  lay  off  the  Galapagos  Islands ;  for  two   officers,  falling  into  a  tlis- 


1 


f  I 


i  ' 


V  n 


^  Ta] 


■\ 


248 


RLUE-JACKi:rs  OF    181 2. 


piite,  settled  their  quarrel,  after  the  manner  of  the  day,  by  a  duel.  In 
the  contest  one,  a  lieutenant,  aged  only  twenty-one  years,  was  killed,  and 
now  lies  buried  in  the  sands  of  the  desolate  and  lonely  island.  After 
this  occurrence,  the  need  for  commanding  officers  became  .so  imperative 
that  even  the  purser  and  chaplain  of  the  "  Essex  "  were  pressed  into  the 
service.     Midshipmen   twelve  or  fourteen  years   old   found    themselves   in 


-it: 


;J 


7  ... 


—  -=— -  -ri-    f( 


\ 


TMK   DUEL  AT  THK  OAI.Al'ACIOS  ISLANDS 


command  of  ships.  David  Farragut  was  one  of  the  boys  thus  suddenly 
promoted,  ami  in  his  journal  has  left  a  description  of  his  experience  as 
a  l)oy  commander 

"I  was  sent  as  prizc-rnaster  to  the  'Parclay,'"  ho  writes.  "This  was 
an  important  event  in  my  life  ;  and,  when  it  was  decided  that  I  was  to 
take  the  ship  to  Valparaiso,  I  felt  no  little  pride  at  finding  myself  in 
command  at  twelve  years  of  age.  This  vessel  had  been  recaptured  from 
a  Spanish  j^uarda  casta.     The   captain    and  his    mate  were  on  board ;  and 


. 


BLUK-JACKiyi'S   OK    1.S12. 


•49 


I  was  to  control  the  men  sent  from  our  frigate,  while  the  captain  was 
to  navigate  the  vessel.  Capt.  Porter,  having  failed  to  dispose  of  the 
prizes  as  it  was  understood  he  intended,  gave  ord'TS  for  the  '  Ivssex 
Junior'  and  all  the  prizes  to  start  for  Valparaiso.  This  arrangement 
caused  great  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  the  captain  of  the  '  Harclay,' 
a  violent-tempered  old  fellow;  and,  when  the  day  arriveil  for  our  separa- 
tion from  the  squadron,  he  was  furious,  and  very  plainly  intimated  to 
me  that  I  would  'find  myself  off  New  Zealand  in  the  morning,' to  which 
I  most  decidedly  demurred.  We  were  lying  still,  while  the  other  ships 
were  fast  disappearing  from  view;  the  'Commodore'  going  north,  and  the 
'  Ir)sse.\  Junior'  with  her  convoy  steering  to  the  south  for  Valparaiso. 

"  I  considered  that  my  day  of  trial  had  arrived  (for  I  was  a  little 
afraid  of  the  old  fellow,  as  every  one  else  was).  lUit  the  time  had  come 
for  me  at  least  to  play  the  man  :  so  I  mustered  up  courage,  and  informed 
the  captain  that  I  desired  the  top.sail  filled  away.  He  replied  that  he  would 
shoot  any  man. who  dared  to  touch  a  rope  without  his  orders;  he  'would 
go  his  own  course,  and  had  no  idea  of  trusting  himself  with  a  d — d  'uit- 
shell ; '  and  then  he  went  below  for  his  pistols.  I  called  my  rigiit-hand 
man  of  the  crew,  and  told  him  my  situation  ;  I  also  informed  him  that 
I  wanted  the  main  topsail  filled.  He  answered  with  a  clear  '  Ay,  ay, 
sir  ! '  in  a  manner  which  was  not  to  be  misunderstood,  and  my  confidence 
was  perfectly  rv  .-.tored.  I'rom  that  moment  I  became  master  of  the 
vessel,  and  immediately  gave  all  necessary  orders  for  making  sail,  notify- 
ing the  captain  not  to  come  on  deck  with  his  pistols  unless  he  wished 
to  go  overboard  ;  for  I  would  really  have  had  very  little  trouble  in  having 
such  an  order  obeyed." 

On  the  30th  of  September,  the  .squadron  fell  in  with  the  "  I-lssex 
Junior,"  which  had  come  from  Valparaiso.  Lieut.  Downes  reported  that 
he  had  disposed  of  the  prizes  satis'actorily,  and  also  brought  news 
that  the  liritish  frigate  "  I'hoebe,"  and  the  sloops-of-war  "  Raccoon  "  and 
"Cherub,"  had  been  ordereil  to  f.ruise  the  Pacific  in  search  of  the  auda- 
cious "  ICsse.s."  More  than  this,  he  secured  statistics  regarding  the  fleet 
of  British  whalers  in  the   I'acific,  that    proveil   that   Porter  hail  completely 


•  t 


h' 


I 


,:■    M' 


j 

1 

n     ■ 

!,  1 

i   ! 

t' 

1, 

1' 

I 

i 

I 

i 

' 


r 


i':  m 


» I 


i 

1    i 

1   ' 

1 

H ' 

Ll 

i 
1 

250 


BLUE-JACKFTS  OF   181 2. 


destroyed  the  industry,  having  left  but  one  whaler  uncaptured.  There 
was  then  no  immediate  work  for  Porter  to  do ;  and  he  determined  to 
proceed  with  his  squadron  to  the  Marquesas  Islands,  and  there  lay  up, 
to  make  needed  repairs  and  alterations. 

The  Marquesas  are  a  desolate  group  of  rocky  islands  lying  in  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  on  the  western  outskirts  of  Oceanica.  In  formation  they 
are  volcanic,  and  rise  in  rugged  mountain-peaks  from  the  bosom  of  the 
great  ocean.  Sea-fowl  of  all  sorts  abound  ;  but  none  of  the  lower  mam- 
mals arc  to  be  found  on  the  island,  .save  swine  which  were  introduced  by 
ICuropeans.  The  people  at  the  time  of  Porter's  visit  were  simple  savages, 
who  had  seldom  seen  the  face  of  a  white  man ;  for  at  that  early  day 
voyagers  were  few  in  the  far-off  Pacific. 

The  island  first  visited  by  the  "  Mssex  "  was  known  to  the  natives  as 
Rooahooga.  Here  the  frigate  stopped  for  a  few  hours.  During  her  stay, 
the  water  alongside  was  fairly  alive  with  canoes  and  swimming  natives. 
They  were  not  allowed  to  come  on  board,  but  were  immensely  pleased 
by  some  fish-hooks  and  bits  of  iron  let  down  to  them  from  the  decks  of 
the  frigate.  Not  to  be  outdone  in  generosity,  the  islanders  threw  u[)  to 
the  sailors  cocoanuts,  fruits,  and  fish.  A  boat-crew  of  jackies  that  went 
ashore  was  surrounded  by  a  smiling,  chattering  throng  of  men,  women, 
and  children,  who  cried  out  incessantly,  "  Tnjur,  taya  "  (friend,  friend),  and 
strove  to  bargain  with  them  for  fruits.  They  were  a  handsome,  intelli- 
gent-looking people  ;  tall,  slender,  and  well  formed,  with  handsome  faces, 
and  complexion  little  darker  than  that  of  a  brunette.  The  men  carried 
white  fans,  anti  wore  bracelets  of  human  hair,  with  necklaces  of  whales' 
teetii  and  shells  about  their  necks,  —  their  sole  articles  of  clothing.  Poth 
men  and  women  were  tattoecl ;  though  the  women  seemed  to  content 
themselves  with  bands  about  the  neck  and  arms,  while  the  men  were 
elaborately  decorated  from  head  to  foot.  Though  some  carried  clubs 
and  lances,  they  showed  no  signs  of  hostility,  but  bore  them.selvcs  with 
that  siini)le  air  of  hospitality  and  unconscious  innocence  common  to  all 
savage  peoples  of  tropical  regions,  uncorrupted  by  association  with  civil- 
i/.eil  white  men. 


^ 


'':\ 


'    t 


!1 


THE   WAR   DANCE. 


;    ' 


;»   ■■  M 


m  ^ 

-y    ,     -.    |- 

1  ^m! 

sHHft 

f             ,'            1           : 

f'      ■             .      '       1' 

i       '      * 

'\    ^   \   ^ 

!       !,  i 

nHK-  ^ 

If-          ;    ■      1 

^^Hf 

liii 

BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


253 


Porter  remained  but  a  short  time  at  this  island,  as  its  shallow  bays 
afforded  no  safe  anchorage  for  the  vessels.  But,  charmed  as  he  was  with 
the  friendly  simplicity  of  the  natives,  he  determined  to  remain  some  time 
in  the  vicinity,  provided  safe  anchorage  could  be  found.  This  essential 
was  soon  discovered  at  Nookaheevah,  where  the  ships  cast  anchor  in  a 
fine  harbor,  which  Porter  straightway  dubbed  Massachusetts  Bay.  Hardly 
had  the  ship  anchored,  when  a  canoe  containing  three  white  men  came 
alongside,  and  was  ordered  away  by  the  captain,  who  thought  them 
deserters  from  some  vessel.  The  canoe  then  returned  to  the  shore,  and 
the  three  whites  were  joined  by  a  vast  assemblage  of  armed  natives. 
Porter  now  began  to  fear  lest  he  had  offended  the  natives,  and  proceeded 
at  once  to  the  beach,  with  four  boats  well  armed  and  manned.  Hut,  by 
the  time  the  boats'  prows  grated  upon  the  white  sand,  every  native  had 
disappeared  ;  ind  the  solo  figure  visible  was  that  of  a  young  man,  who 
advanced,  and,  giving  a  formal  naval  salute,  announced  himself  as  I^fid- 
shipman  John  M.  Maury,  U.S.N.  Porter  was  greatly  surprised  to  find  a 
midshipman  in  so  strange  a  place ;  but  the  latter  e.xplained  it  by  stating 
that  he  was  on  furlough,  and  had  been  left  there  by  a  merchant-vessel, 
which  was  to  call  for  him.  She  had  never  returned,  however,  and  he 
now  hailed  the  "Essex"  as  an  opportunity  for  escape.  A  second  white 
man,  who  then  put  in  an  appearance,  naked  and  tattooed  like  an  Indian, 
proved  to  be  an  Englishman  who  had  been  on  the  island  for  years,  and 
who,  by  his  knowledge  of  the  language  and  character  of  the  natives, 
proved  of  great  assistance  to  the  Americans,  during  the  long  stay  upon 
which  Capt.  Porter  had  determined. 


U        : 


'<^S 


CHAPTER    XI. 


I'H 


WAR  WITH  THK  SAVACF.S.  -  THF.  CAMPAir.N  AGAINST  TIIF.  TVrF.K.S  -  DEPARTURF.  FKOM 
NOOKAIIFIAAH.— TIIK  "  F.SSKX"  ANLlIOkS  AT  VALPARAISO.  -  ARRIVAL  OF  THE  "  PIKF.IIF." 
A.\l>  "  CHF.Rl  Ii."-IIIFA'  CAPirRF  THK  "  ESSEX."  -  I'ORTliRS  ENCOL'.NTER  WITH  THE 
■■SATURN."-  THE   MITINV   .VL  NOOKAHEEVAH. 

T  was  now  the  last  of  October,  1813.  Capt.  Porter  saw  that  the 
work  he  desired  done  upon  the  ships  under  his  char{.je  would 
occupy  about  si.v  weeks,  and  he  at  once  set  about  forming  such 
relations  of  peace  and  amity  with  the  natives  as  should  enable 
him  to  procure  the  necessary  supplies  and  prosecute  his  work  uiuno- 
lestetl.  Much  to  his  dismay,  he  had  hardly  begun  his  diplomatic  palaver 
with  the  chiefs,  when  he  learned  that  to  keep  one  tribe  friendly  he  must 
fight  its  battles  against  all  other  tribes  on  the  island.  The  natives  of 
Nookaheevah  were  then  divided  into  a  large  number  of  tribal  organiza- 
tions. With  three  of  these  the  Americans  were  brought  into  contact, — 
the  Happahs,  the  Taeehs,  and  the  Typees.  The  Taeehs  lived  in  the  fer- 
tile valley  about  the  bay  in  which  the  American  squadron  was  anchored. 
With  these  people  Porter  treated  first,  and  made  his  appearance  in  their 
village  in  great  state,  being  accompanied  by  the  band,  the  marines,  and 
several  boats'  crews  of  jackies.  He  was  hospitably  received  by  the 
natives,  who  crowded  about  to  listen  to  the  band,  and  wonder  at  the  mili- 
tary precision  of  the  marines,  whom  they  regarded  as  supernatural  beings. 

a54 


*f 


( 


SI:     '. 


r^ 


> 

s 


HLUK-JACKKIS   OK    1.S12. 


!55 


GattiiiK'wa,  the  chief,  expressed  his  abounding  love  for  the  captain,  ami 
exchaiij^ed  names  with  him,  after  the  custom  of  the  people  ;  but  ended  by 
sayiuj^  that  the  lawless  liappahs  were  at  war  with  the  Taeehs,  and  the 
^\mericans,  to  jjain  the  friendship  of  the  latter  tribe,  must  make  common 
cause  with  them  ap;ainst  their  enemies.  To  this  Porter  demurred,  but 
the  wily  chief  thereupon  brought  forward  a  most  conclusive  argument. 
He  said  that  the  liappahs  had  cursed  his  mother's  bones;  and  that,  as 
he  and  Porter  had  exchanged  names,  that  estimable  woman  was  the  cap- 
tain's mother  also,  and  the  insult  to  her  memory  should  be  avenged.  It 
is  i^robable  that  even  this  argument  might  have  proved  unavailing,  had 
not  the  liappahs  the  next  night  descended  upon  the  valley,  and,  having 
burned  two  hundred  bread-fruit  trees,  departed,  leaving  word  that  the 
Americans  were  cowards,  and  dared  not  follow  them  into  their  mountain 
fastnesses.  Porter  saw  that  his  food  supplies  were  in  danger  from  these 
vandals,  and  his  knowledge  of  savage  character  convinced  him  that  he 
could  have  no  peace  with  any  of  the  natives  until  the  insolence  of  this 
tribe  was  punished.  Accordingly  he  notified  the  Taeehs,  that,  if  they 
would  carry  a  gun  to  the  top  of  one  of  the  mountain  peaks,  he  would 
send  a  party  against  the  liappahs.  The  Taeehs  eagerly  agreed  ;  and, 
after  seeing  the  gun  fired  once  or  twice  (a  sight  that  set  them  fondling 
and  kissing  it,  to  show  their  reverence  for  so  powerful  a  weapon), 
they  set  off  up  the  steep  mountain  sides,  tugging  the  gun  after  them. 
Lieut.  Downes  led  the  American  forces.  They  had  hardly  reached  the 
mountain  tops,  when  the  fighting  began.  The  Happahs  were  armed  wilii 
spears,  and  with  slings,  from  which  they  threw  heavy  stones  with  terrific 
velocity.  They  seemed  to  know  no  fear,  and  stood  gallantly  befoie  the 
advancing  Americans,  fairly  darkening  the  air  with  clouds  of  stones  and 
spears.  The  Americans,  though  few  in  number,  —  forty,  opposed  to  nearly 
four  thousand  savages,  —  pressed  forward,  suffering  but  little  from  the 
weapons  of  their  foes,  l-'rom  the  deck  of  his  frigate  in  the  bay,  Porter 
could  see  the  steady  advances  of  his  forces,  as  they  drove  the  liappahs 
from  peak  to  peak.  Before  the  Americans  a  huge  native  strode  along, 
waving  wildly  the  American  flag.     The  howitzer  came  in  the  rear,  and 


^ 


2S6 


HIXK-J.UKKIS   OF    1S12. 


was  every  now  and  then  discharj^ed,  to  drive  the  foe  from  some  formid- 
able stronj;hold.  So  ignorant  of  fire-arms  were  the  enemy,  that  they  had 
no  idea  of  tlieir  power,  often  fighting  until  the  muzzle  of  a  musket  was 
laid  to  their  temples  before  the  discharge.  Hut  before  nightfall  this  war- 
like spirit  was  broken,  and  the  victors  returned  to  their  ships,  their  native 


.■^* 


f 


. '  I 


>J/M       '     \'^'ii\\d 


34-^ 


KiRiNi;  rm;  howit/er. 


allies  carrying  five  dead  bodies  slung  on  poles.  Two  only  of  the  Ameri- 
cans were  wounded.  The  next  day  Happah  ambassadors  came  to  sue  for 
peace ;  and  soon  every  tribe  on  the  island  joined  the  alliance,  save  the 
Typees,  and  a  distant  tribe  that  proudly  bore  the  unpronounceable  name 
of  Hatecaaheottwohos.  For  two  or  three  weeks  peace  reigned  undis- 
turbed. Work  was  pushed  on  the  vessels.  The  rats  with  which  the 
"  I-lssex "  was  infested  were  smoked  out,  an  operation  that  necessitated 
the  division  of  the  crew  between  the  shore  and  the  other  vessels.     Porter 


4 


i,' 


KI-Ur:-J.UKETS   OF    iSi, 


257 


himself,  with  his  officers,  took  up  his  quarters  in  a  tent  pitched  on  the 
shore.  Under  some  circumstances,  such  a  change  would  have  been  rather 
pleasant  than  otherwise  ;  but  the  rainy  season  had  now  come  on,  and  the 
tent  was  little  protection  against  the  storms.  Noticing  this,  the  natives 
volunteered  to  put  up  such  buildings  as  the  captain  desired,  and  pro- 
ceedeil  to  do  so  in  a  most  expeditious  manner.  At  early  dawn  four 
thousand  men  set  about  the  work,  and  by  night  had  completed  a  walled 
village,  containing  a  dwelling-house  for  the  captain,  another  for  his  officers, 
a  cooper's  shop,  hospital,  bake-house,  guard-house,  and  a  shed  for  the 
sentinel  to  walk  under.  For  their  services  the  men  received  old  nails, 
bits  of  iron  hoop,  and  other  metal  scraps,  with  which  tiiey  were  highly 
delighted.  The  Americans  were  then  living  on  the  terms  of  the  most 
perfect  friendship  with  the  natives.  Many  of  the  jackies  had  been  taken 
into  the  families  of  the  islanders,  and  all  had  formed  most  tender  attach- 
ment for  the  beautiful  island  women  ;  who,  in  their  turn,  were  devoted  to 
the  "  Malleekees,"  who  were  such  mighty  men  of  war,  and  brought  them 
such  pretty  presents  of  beads  and  whales'  teeth.  The  Americans  entered 
into  the  celebrations  and  festivities  of  the  islanders,  watched  their  dances, 
joined  their  fishing  expeditions,  and  soon  were  on  the  friendliest  footing 
with  their  dusky  hosts. 

But  .so  pleasant  and  peaceful  an  existence  was  not  destined  to  con- 
tinue long.  The  Typees,  who  inhabited  the  interior  of  the  island,  were 
beginning  to  stir  up  strife  against  the  Americans;  and  Porter  saw  that 
their  insolence  must  be  crushed,  or  the  whole  native  population  would 
unite  in  war  against  him,  Hut  to  begin  a  war  with  the  Typees  was  far 
from  Porter's  wish.  The  way  to  their  country  lay  over  rugged  jjrecipices 
and  through  almost  im|icnetrable  jungles.  The  light-footed  natives  could 
easily  enough  scale  the  peaks,  or  threatl  the  forests ;  but  to  Porter's 
sailors  it  would  be  an  exhausting  undertaking.  No  artillery  could  be 
taken  into  the  field,  and  the  immense  number  of  natives  that  might 
be  arrayed  against  the  .sailors  made  the  success  of  the  expedition  very 
uncertain.  Porter,  therefore,  determined  to  try  to  adjust  the  ilifficuity 
amicably,   and    with    this    purpose    sent    an   ambassador   to   the   Typees, 


Hi 


\. 


\  ! 


25.^ 


r.i,ri;-I.\(Ki;is  oi'  1812. 


I  i1 


M 


,  t 


proposinj^  ;i  peaceful  alliance.  The  reply  of  the  natives  is  an  amusint; 
example  i)f  the  ii^norant  vainglory  of  savaj^e  tribes,  unacciuainted  with  the 
pouc-r  of  civilized  peoples.  The  'I'ypees  saw  no  reason  to  desire  the  friend- 
ship of  the  Americans.  They  had  always  L;(>t  aloni;  \ery  well  without  it- 
They  had  no  intention  of  sendinj^  ho,L;s  or  fruit  to  sell  to  the  Americans. 
If  the  Americans  wanted  supplies,  let  them  come  ami  take  them.  The 
Americans  were  cowards,  white  lizards,  and  mere  dirt.  The  sailors  were 
\veaklinjj;s,  who  could  not  climb  the  Xookaheevan  hills  without  aid  from 
the  natives.  This,  and  much  more  of  the  same  sort,  was  the  answer 
of  the  Typecs  to   I'orter's  friendly  overtures. 

T!iis  left  no  course  open  to  the  Americans  save  to  chastise  the  inso- 
lent barbarians.  The  departure  of  the  e.xpetlition  was,  however,  delayed 
until  a  fort  could  be  built  for  the  protection  of  the  American  villai;e. 
This  work,  a  sand-ba<,^  battery,  calculated  to  mount  sixteen  L;uns,  was 
completed  on  the  14th  k\  November,  and  prei)arations  for  tl'e  expedition 
were  then  be_L;un.  And,  indeed,  it  was  time  that  the  Americans  showed 
that  they  were  not  to  be  insulted  with  impunity.  Alreaily  the  Taeehs 
and  napi)ahs  were  beginnin.L;'  to  wonder  at  the  delay,  and  lumors  spriad 
about  the  \illai;e  that  the  whiles  were  really  the  ccnvards  for  wiiich  the 
Typces  took  them.  One  man,  a  chief  amon,L;'  the  llap|)ahs,  was  rash 
enough  to  call  porter  a  cowan!  to  his  face  ;  whereat  the  choleric-  captain 
sei/ed  a  gun,  and,  rushing  for  the  offender,  soon  i)rought  him  tn  his 
knees,  the  muz/.le  of  the  wea|)on  against  ids  head,  begging  for  nuTis, 
That   man   was  ever  after   Porter's  most  able  ally  among  the  natives. 

The  preparations  fm-  war  with  the  T\  pees  were  completed,  and  the 
expedition  was  about  to  set  out,  when  a  new  difficulty  arose,  this  time 
among  the  white  men.  I'irst,  a  plot  was  discovered  among  the  Prilish 
prisoners  for  the  ncaptuie  of  the  "  l",ss.'x  Junior."  Th.rir  jilan  \\,is  ti> 
get  the  crew  inunk,  bv  means  of  diugg'.-d  rum,  and  then  rise,  seize  the 
vessel,  and  make  olf  whiK'  the  American  forces  were  absent  on  the  Tx  pre 
expedition.  This  plot.  l)i-ing  discovered,  was  easily  defeated  ;  and  ihe 
leaders  weii-  put  in  irons.  Then  Porter  discoxered  t'lat  disaffection  had 
spreacl  among  his  crew,  which,  for  a  time,  threatened  serious  consequences. 


..^ 


i      ii 


I         !• 


THE    UGHi     Al     NOOKAMHLVAH. 


i^   I 


|)  wi 


I.IJI 


't 


\ 

? 

[ 

1 

1 

I 

1 

"it 

\ 

'1 

-i 


'  ; 


- 


IlI.ri.-JACKKI'S   OK    iSi. 


261 


lUit  this  cl;iiij;cr  was  avcrtod  hy  the  faptain's  manly  actions  and  words, 
which  brought  the  jackics  to  his  side  as  one  man. 

On  the  2.Sth  of  November  tlie  long-deferred  expedition  against  tlie 
Ty))ees  left  the  snug  (juarters  on  tlie  shore  of  Massachusetts  Hay.  The 
expedition  went  by  sea,  skirting  the  shore  of  the  island,  until  a  suitable 
landing-place  near  the  territory  of  the  hostile  tribe  was  readied.  The 
"  Ivssex  Junior"  led  the  way.  followed  by  live  boats  full  of  men,  and  ten 
war-canoes  tilled  with  natives,  who  kept  u])  an  unearthly  din  with  ilis- 
cordant  conches.  When  the  forces  landed,  the  fiiendly  nati\es  were  seen 
to  number  at  least  tlve  thousand  men  ;  while  of  the  Americans,  thirty-live, 
under  the  command  of  Capl.  I'oiler,  were  considered  enough  for  the  work 
in  hand,  ['"rom  the  time  the  lighting  began,  the  friendly  natives  kept 
carefully  in  the  rear,  and  seemed  to  be  only  waiting  to  aid  the  victors, 
whether  they  should  be   .\mericans  or    I'yiJees. 

Capt.  I'orter  and  hi-,  followers,  upon  laniling,  sat  down  upon  the  beach 
for  breakfast  ;  but  their  repast  wa>.  rudely  disturbed  by  a  shower  of 
stones  from  an  ambusi  ,ide  of  Typees  in  the  eiige  of  the  wood.  Slopping 
but  a  moment  to  tini.sh  their  food,  the  jackies  picked  u|)  their  cutlasses 
and  muskets,  and  started  for  the  enemy.  They  were  soon  in  the  shady 
recesses  of  the  tropical  lorest,  but  not  a  Tyj.'ee  was  to  Ix-  seen.  That 
the  enemy  was  there,  however,  was  amply  attested  by  tb.'  hail  of  stones 
that  fell  among  the  inv.ulers,  and  the  snapping  of  slings  that  could  be 
heard  »u  all  siiles.  'I'his  was  a  kind  of  lighting  to  which  the  sailors 
were  not  accustomed;  and  lor  a  momi'iU.  they  wavered,  but  weie  clucred 
on  by  their  brave  leader,  .md,  ]>usiiing  through  the  woods,  came  to  a 
clearing  ^m  the  l)anks  tif  a  narrow  ri\er.  Hut  here  a  sail  di.saster  befell 
tht.'Ui  in  the  loss  of  I.ieul.  l)<twnes.  whose  ankle  was  broken  by  a  >tone. 
lie  was  sent  back  to  the  ship,  wiili  ;in  esi  ort  of  live  men;  and  the  party, 
thus  reduced  to  twenty-nine,  forded  the  river,  .md  scaled  its  high  b.mk, 
cheering  lustily,  under  a  heavy  tire  from  tlie  TyiJces,  who  maile  a  ilogged 
stand  on  the  farther  shore.  Hy  this  time,  the  l.ist  of  their  savage  allies 
had  disappeared. 

The  advance  of  the  Americans  was   now  checked  by  a   jungle  ol   such 


I 


I;   n 


.: 


262 


niA r.-j.uKi: rs OK  t.si2. 


M 


rank  mulcrbrusli  that  the  cutlasses  of  tlic  men  maile  no  impression  upon 
it  ;  and  they  were  forced  to  crawl  forward  on  their  hands  and  knees, 
under  a  f"»nstant  fire  from  the  enemy,  i-'roni  this  maze,  they  burst  .>ui 
upon  a  clearing,  and,  looking  about  them,  saw  no  sign  of  their  savage 
foes,  who  had  suddenly  vanished.  The  solution  of  this  mystery  was  soon 
discovered.  After  marching  a  few  rods  totally  unmolested,  a  sudden  turn 
in  the  path  brought  the  Americans  in  sight  of  a  formidable  stone  for- 
tress, perched  on  a  hill  commanding  the  road,  and  flanketl  on  either  sick- 
by  dense  jungles.  The  wall  of  the  fortress  was  of  stone,  seven  feet  high  ; 
and  from  it,  and  from  the  thickets  on  either  side,  came  such  demoniac 
yells,  and  such  showers  of  stones,  as  convinced  the  Americans  that  they 
were  in  front  of  the  Typee  stronghold.  l""or  a  lime  the  invaders  seemed 
in  danger  of  annihilation.  They  were  totally  unprotected,  and  tlanked 
by  concealed  foes,  whose  missiles  were  plunging  down  u|)on  them  with 
deadly  effect.  Some  few  secured  places  behind  trees,  and  began  a  mus- 
ketry fire;  but  the  alarming  cry  soon  arose  that  the  ammunition  was 
exhausted.  I'ive  men  were  immediately  desjiatched  to  the  beach  ior 
more  cartridges,  while  the  few  remaining  determined  to  hold  their  |)(>si- 
tion  at  any  cost,  Hut  to  this  determination  they  were  unable  to  adhere. 
Had  the  Tyi)ees  charged,  the  whole  American  furce  would  have  been 
swept  awav  like  driftwood  before  a  sprmgtime  tlood,  lUit  the  savages 
neglected  their  opportunity ;  and  the  Americans  lirst  gained  the  protection 
of  the  bushes,  then  fell  back  across  the  river,  and  so  to  the  beach. 

Here  a  council  of  war  was  held.  They  had  been  i)eaten  back  by 
savages  ;  enormously  outnumbered,  to  be  sure,  but  still  opposed  by  ujidis- 
ciplined  warriors  armed  with,  rude  weapons.  The  stair,  of  that  defeat 
must  be  washed  out  by  a  \  iclory.  Upon  one  point,  all  were  agreed. 
The  Hajipahs  had  played  them  false  by  leading  them  over  the  most 
dangerous  roads,  and  into  ambuscades  of  the  enemy.  To  such  treach- 
erous guides,  they  wonld  not  again  trust  themselves,  Hefore  he  again 
led  his  men  to  b.ittle,  Porter  wished  to  try  diplomacy.  Although  he 
knew  that  he  had  been  beaten  in  the  engagement,  it  would  never  do  to 
confess   defeat    before   so   many   savages   (fcu'   the   Taeehs    and    Happahs 


r.i.ri:-j.\iKi:is  or  1.S12. 


263 


were  now  swarming  about  lum,  disciissirif;  the  fi^ht).  Acconlinfjly  a 
messenger  was  sent  to  tell  the  Typees  that  a  handful  of  wliite  men  hail 
driven  them  into  their  fort,  killing  and  wounding  many.  Now  a  large 
re-enforcement  of  white  men  was  on  the  heaeli,  ready  lo  drive  them  from 
their  valley,  hut  that  if  they  would  sue  for  peace  they  might  yet  save 
their  lives  and  their  villages.  At  this  the  Typees  laughed.  "Tell  Opotee," 
said  they,  "that  we  have  plenty  of  men  to  spaie  ;  while  his  men  are  few. 
We  have  killed  his  chief  warrior,  and  wounded  many  of  his  people.  Wc 
are  not  afraid  of  his  hoii/iirs  [muskets]  ;  they  often  miss  fnc,  and,  when 
they  wound,  don't  iiurl  much.  If  tlie  Malleekees  can  drive  us  from  our 
valley,  why  don't  they  come  anil  do  it.'  —  not  stay  on  the  l)each  and  talk." 
W'iien  Porter  received  this  letter,  he  knew  thai  he  must  again  take 
the  field  agaiusl  the  Ty|)ees,  or  his  half-hearted  allies  would  abandi-n  him 
and  join  his  foes,  giving  him  endless  troul>Ie,  and  putting  a  stop  to  llie 
refitting  of  the  ships  in  Mas.sachusett?>  Hay.  lie  now  understood  the 
power  ;if  his  foes,  ;ind  accordingly  chose  two  hundred  men  to  go  with 
him  on  the  second  ixpeilitiou.  lie  also  determined  to  leave  behind  the 
friendly  savages,  whose  friendship  was  a  very  doubtful  (piality.  The 
forces  left  the  beach  that  \erv  night,  and  began  their  weary  man  h  up 
the  mount. nn-s,de.  Il  u.i>  bright  moonlight  ;  .m)  thai  llu-  narrow  moun- 
tain paths,  the  learlul  precipices,  the  tangled  jungles,  ami  the  swamps 
and  rivirs  were  \i.sible  to  tlu'  marching  column.  I<\  midnight  the  .Amer- 
icans tound  tlunisidves  jierihed  on  the  summit  of  .i  rockv  pe.ik  ovi.'rlook- 
ing  the  Ivpee  \  alley,  fiom  which  arose  sounds  of  drum-beating,  sin^;mg, 
and  loud  shouts  of  iiNiliy.  The  guides  wiio  hail  led  tlu'  American  col- 
umn .said  thai  tli;-'  savages  were  rejoicing  over  their  triumph,  and  were 
calling  upon  tluir  gods  to  send  rain  and  spoil  the  "Malleekees*  Lm/iiis." 
porter  knew  the  time  was  ripe  for  a  surj)rise,  and  the  men  were  eager 
to  be  led  against  the  enemy  ;  but  the  guides  |»rolested  that  no  mortal 
men  could  desix-nd  the  i)ath  'eading  to  the  Typee  village,  at  night,  .so 
precipit(.UN  vv.ix  the  descent.  The  Americans  were  therefore  forced  to 
wait  patiently  until  moming.  Tl'.r()wing  themselves  on  the  ground,  the 
Weary  sailors  were  .soon  asleep,  but  were  waked  up  m  an  hour  by  a  licavy 


i   1 


\  \ 


HLLIK-J.U'KiriS  OF    1.S12. 


M'i   ■ ' 


burst  of  rain.  They  saw  tin."  rain  falling  in  sheets,  and  the  sky  banked 
with  lihick  clouds  that  j;ave  little  hope  of  a  stoppa^^'.  I''rom  the  valley 
below  rose  the  triumphant  yells  of  the  Typecs,  who  were  convineed  that 
their  gods  had  sent  the  shower  to  spoil  the  white  men's  weapons.  And, 
indeed,  the  floods  poured  down  as  though  .sent  for  that  very  service;  so 
that  at  daybreak  the  Americans  found  that  more  than  half  their  powder 
was  spoiled.  To  make  matters  worse,  the  precipitous  path  leading  down 
into  the  valley  was  so  slippery  that  it  would  have  been  madness  to 
attempt  the  ilescent.  Accordingly  Porter  determined  to  retreat  to  the 
Ilappah  village,  and  there  wait  for  better  weather.  Heforc  falling  back, 
however,  he  ordered  a  volley  lired,  to  show  the  savages  that  the  lire-arms 
were  not  yet  useless.  The  noise  of  the  volley  was  the  first  intimation  to 
the  Typees  that  the  Americans  were  so  near  them,  and  their  village  was 
at  once  thrown  inlc;  the  direst  confusion.  Cries  of  surprise  mingled 
with  the  beating  of  drums,  the  blowing  of  horns,  the  shrieks  of  women 
and  children,  and  the  scjucaling  of  pigs  being  driven  to  places  of  safety. 
In  the  midst  of  the  tumult  the  Americans  retired  to  the  Ilappah  village, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  that  day  and  the  following  night. 

The  ne.\t  mivrning  dawned  bright  aiul  cool  after  the  rain  ;  and  the 
Americans  .sallied  forth,  determined  to  eiul  this  annoying  affray  in  sh(Mt 
onUi.  Thicy  scjon  reached  their  former  station  on  the  dills,  and,  looking 
ik)wn  upon  the  Typee  territory,  saw  a  beautiful  valley,  cut  up  by  stone 
walls  into  highly  cultivated  farms,  and  dotted  with  picturesque  villages. 
Ikil  llutugh.  their  Iiearts  may  ha\e  been  softened  by  the  sight  of  so  lovely 
a  spot,  so  soon  to  be  laid  desolate,  they  were  soon  ner\ed  to  their  work 
by  a  party  of  Typees,  who  were  posted  on  the  farther  bank  of  a  river 
that  skilled  the  base  of  the  clilY,  and  were  calling  out  to  the  Americans, 
calling  them  cowards,  and  daring  tlnin  to  come  down  ami  fight,  i'orter 
ga\e  the  command;  and  the  jaekies  were  soon  ilambering  down  the  cliffs, 
ill  the  face  of  a  rapid  tire  from  their  enemies.  The  bank  of  the  river 
once  gained,  the  .Xnieiica.is  halted  to  nst  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then, 
fording  the  stream,  pushed  forward  straight  foi-  the  nearest  village.  The 
Typees    hung    upon    the    llaiik    of   the   aovancing   column  ;    now  and    then 


yilii 


IJl,Ui:-J.U"KK'l'S  OV    I  Si  2. 


J65 


makinj;  ficrco  ihar,L;cs,  hut  always  beaten  haek  with  severe  losses.  The 
sailors  sutfereil  l)iit  little,  and  were  soon  in  possession  of  the  villaj;e, 
behind  the  walls  of  whieh  the  main  body  halteil,  while  scoiitin;.;  parties 
were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre.  After  a  short  halt  at  this  i)()int,  the 
invaders  pushed  forward  to  the  ne.\t  villaj^i.',  and  so  on  up  the  valley, 
burnin;;-  each  village  as  soon  as  it  was  captured.  Undismayed  by  tJK'ir 
continued  reverses,  the  Typees  fouglit  doggedly,  scornfully  refusing  to 
listen  to  the  peaceful  overtures  made  i>y  the  American  commander 
After  marching  three  or  four  miles,  aiul  lighting  for  every  fool  of  the 
way,  the  Americans  found  themselves  before  an  extensive  village,  which, 
from  its  size,  and  the  strength  of  its  fortifications,  was  evidently  the 
Typee  capital.  Here  the  salvages  made  a  last  determined  stand,  hut 
to  no  avail.  The  Americans  poured  over  the  wall,  and  were  soon  in 
possession  of  the  town  The  beauty  of  the  village,  the  regularity  of  its 
streets,  and  the  air  of  comfort  anil  civilization  everywhere  apparent,  made 
it  hard  for  Porter  to  give  the  fateful  order  that  should  commit  all  to  the 
flames.  Hut  his  duty  was  clear,  and  the  order  was  given.  Leaving  the 
blazing  capital  behind  them,  the  sailors  retraced  their  steps  to  the  ships, 
having  completeil  the  devastation  of  the  valley  that  a  day  before  was  .so 
peaceful,  fertile,  anil  lovely.  The  spirit  of  the  Typees  was  th()r(nighly 
broken  by  this  crushing  blow  ;  and  for  the  next  few  days  the  ships  were 
besieged  by  ambassadors  from  all  the  island  trilies,  begging  for  peace. 

l""eeling  assured  that  he  should  have  no  further  trouble  with  the 
natives,  Porter  now  exerted  all  his  energies  to  complete  the  repairs  on 
the  ships,  that  he  might  again  take  the  sea.  So  rapidly  did  the  work 
progress,  that  by  the  9th  of  December  the  "  ICsse.x  "  and  "  Msse.x  Junior" 
were  refitted,  and  stocked  with  fresh  provisions  of  hogs,  cocoanuts,  and 
bananas ;  the  "  New  Zealander,"  loaded  with  oil  from  the  other  prizes, 
was  ordered  to  proceed  to  New  V'ork  ;  while  the  "  Cireenwich,"  ".Sering- 
apatam,"  and  "Hammond"  were  to  remain  at  the  islands  unt.l  the 
"  ICsse.x "  should  return  for  them.  These  arrangements  being  made, 
the  war-ships  made  ready  to  depart. 

But  now  arose  u  dinicully,  ludicrous  in  its  cause,  but  v/hich  threatened 


n 


*  I 


m 


m 


'*  'h' 


'!'■ 


266 


I'.i.ri.-iACKKis  or  i,si2. 


to  l)c  serious  in  its  effects.  The  ships  had  been  lyin^  in  harbor  for 
about  two  nionliis  ;  and  durin;;  tiiat  time  the  sailors,  with  unUniited  shore 
iiiierty,  liad  made  such  ties  as  I)ounii  tiiem  closely  to  the  native  jieople. 
The  youn;;  f^irls  of  the  islands,  with  lluir  comely  faces  and  fair  lom- 
plexions,  had  played  sad  havoc  with  the  hearts  of  the  gallant  tars  of  thi' 
"  l'!sse.\  ;  "  and  deep  was  the  j;rund)lin,i;'  amon;;  the  sailors  when  thev  iieard 
that  the  time  had  come  for  them  to  hid  farewill  to  their  sweitluarts. 
No  openly  mutinous  demonstration  was  made  ;  but  so  old  a  connnau(U-r 
could  not  overlook  the  f.ut  that  some  disaffeclion  existed  anion;;  his 
crew,  and  a  little  investigation  disclosed  (he  trouble.  There  could  be  no 
half-way  measures  adojited  in  the  case,  and  I'orter  at  once  j;ave  orders 
that  all  further  intercourse  with  tiie  shore  should  cease.  That  very  nij;ht 
three  sailors  slipi)ed  into  tlie  sea,  and  sv,am  ashore  to  meet  their  sweet- 
hearts ;  but  the  wily  captain  had  stationed  a  patrol  upon  tlu'  beach,  and 
the  three  luckless  Leanders  were  sent  back  to  the  ship  in  irons.  All  thu 
next  day  the  native  ^irls  lined  the  shore  ol  thi-  l)a\.  and  with  i)lea(lin^ 
{;estures  besought  the  captain  to  let  the  sailors  come  ashore,  but  to  no  avail. 
.lome  fair  maidens  even  swam  off  to  the  ship,  but  were  i^rullly  onli'ii'd 
away  by  the  officers.  All  this  was  very  tantalizing;  to  the  men,  whs 
hung  over  the  bulwarks,  looking  at  the  fair  objects  of  their  adoration. 
lUil  oni-  man  only  sliowed  signs  of  rebellion  against  the  captain's  author- 
ity ;  and  i'orter,  calling  him  out  before  the  crew,  rebuked  him,  and  sent 
him  ashore  in  a  native  canoe  :  while  the  rest  of  the  jackies  sprang  into 
the  rigging,  set  the  canvas,  and  the  ship  soon  left  tlu-  ishuul,  with  its 
sorrowing  nymphs,  far  in   her  wake. 

The  two  vessels  tinned  their  heads  toward  \'a1paraiso.  and  made  the 
port  after  an  uneventful  voyage  of  fift-y.si.\  days.  The  frig.ttv  (.'ntered  the 
harboi- at  once,  and  cast  anchor;  while  the  "  Ivsse.v  junioi  "  was  ordered  to 
cruise  about  ontside.  keeping  a  close  watch  for  the  enemy's  ships.  The 
friendship  of  the  people  of  the  town  seemed  as  great  as  during  the  first 
visit  of  the  frigate  to  the  port  ;  and  a  series  of  entertainments  was  begun, 
that  culminated  in  a  grand  bail  upon  the  "  Ivsse.x  "  on  the  night  of  the  7th 
of  February,  1.S14.     l'"or  that  one  night  the  ulTicers  of  the  "  lisse.x  Junior" 


iiMi:-j.\(Ki:rs  oi'  isi2. 


267 


were  absolved  fioiii  llioii-  wwiry  iluty  ot  patiollinj;  tin-  m.-.!  ;il  tlic  muiith 
of  tin:  harbor.  Tlu-  vessel  was  aiulioied  at  a  point  tltat  einninanded  a 
view  (if  the  oeean  ;  and  her  oflicers,  arrayed  in  the  splendor  of  fidl  dress, 
betook  themselves  on  lioard  of  the  frij^ate.  At  niidni;;ht,  after  an  even- 
ing of  (hinein;.^  and  gayet\.  Lieut.  Oownes  left  the  "  Ivssex,"  and  ri'tnined 
to  his  vessel,  whieh  immediately  wei.i;hed  anchor  and  put  to  sea.  I  lie 
festivities  on  the  fri.i;ati-  continued  a  little  time  lon;^^er  ;  and  then,  llu'  last 
ladies  havin;;  been  handed  down  the  ^jan^way,  and  pulled  ashore,  the 
work  of  elearinj;  away  the  decorations  be;;an,  While  t'lie  ship's  (K'cks 
were  still  stre'vn  wiLh  lla;;s  and  (lowers,  while  the  awninj;s  still  slretche(| 
from  stem  to  stern,  and  the  hundreds  of  ;^ay  lanterns  still  lum;^  in  the 
rigjjin;^,  the  "  I'lsse.x  Junior"  was  .-^eeii  comin-  into  the  harbor  with  a 
sij;nal  flying'.  Tlu-  siL;nal  (|uarterma;.ter  rushed  for  his  book,  and  soon 
announced  that  the  lla;;s  read,  "Two  enenn's  shi|)s  in  si-ht."  At  this 
moini'iu  more  than  halt  tlu-  crew  ot  the  "  I'.ssex  '  were  on  shore;  but  a 
sJLCnal  set  at  the  ship's  side  recalle.l  the  men,  and  in  an  hour  and  a  half 
the  shiji  was  read)  lor  action;  wiiile  the  "  ICssev  Junior  "  cast  anihor  in 
a  supporting   position. 

'I'he  two  siran;;c  vessels  wen-  the  "Cherub"  and  the  "  T'lKcbe," 
Ihitish  men-of-war  They  rounded  into  the  liarbor  about  ei,i;hl  .a.m.,  and 
boie  down  tow.irds  the  American  ships,  The  "  IMKebe,"  the  larj;er  of 
the  two  I'ji^lishmen,  drew  close  to  the  "  I-'ssi-.x  ; "  and  her  commander, 
('a|)t.  llillyar,  sprang;  upon  the  taffrail,  and  asked  .ifti'r  ('apt.  Poller's 
health.  I'orter  respondid  coiuteouslv;  and,  noticing;'  that  the  "I'hobe" 
w.is  cominj;-  closer  th.m  the  lustoms  of  war-vessels  in  a  neutral  port  per- 
mitted, warned  the  I',n.i,dishman  to  keep  his  distance,  or  troul)te  would 
result,  llillvar  protested  that  he  meant  no  harm,  but  ne\ertheless  con- 
tinued bis  adv.mce  until  the  two  ships  were  almost  fouled.  l'ort"r  called 
the  boarders  to  the  bow;  and  the\  crowded  foiward,  armed  to  the  teeth, 
and  stiipped  for  the  ti,L;hl,  'I'he  "I'luebe"  was  in  such  ;i  position  that  she 
lay  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  the  "  I'.sse.y,"  ;ind  could  not  brin-  a  .L;im  to 
bear  in  her  own  di-feiui'.  I  lillyar,  from  his  position  on  the  taffrail,  could 
see    the    American    boarders    re.uly    to    spriiiL;    at    the   word    of    lomm.ind, 


r 


I 


'■    1 


N      ! 


!  1 

1  ( 

; 

1 

268 


HiA;i;-j.u:Ki;rs  oi-  isij. 


and  tin-  mii//Ios  of  the  cannon  ready  ti)  blow  the  ship  out  of  water. 
There  is  httle  ilmihl  that  he  was  astonished  to  run!  the  "  l-'-ssex "  so  well 
jjrepared  fm  the  fray,  for  he  had  been  told  that  more  than  half  her 
c-rew  had  ^one  ashore.  Relying;  upon  this  infoiniation,  he  had  probably 
planned  to  lapture  the  "  ICssex "  at  her  nioorin;;s,  rej^jardless  of  the 
neutrality  of  the  port.  lUu  he  had  now  broU};ht  himself  into  a  dan;ierous 
position,  and  Porter  would  have  been  justilied  in  openinj;  fire  at  onee. 
I?ut  the  apologies  and  protestations  of  the  Hritish  laptain  disarmed  him, 
and   he  unwi>ely  let   the  "I'liiebe"  proceed  unmolested. 

In  his  journal,  I'arragut  thus  describes  this  incident:  "  W'l-  wi-re  all 
at  cpiarlers,  and  cleargLl  for  action,  waitinj;  with  briMthless  an.\iet\  for  the 
command  from  Capl.  I'orler  to  i)oard,  when  the  Iji^dish  captain  appeared, 
standinj;  on  the  after-};un,  in  a  pea-jacket,  and  in  plain   hearing  said, — 

" '  Capt.    ilillyar's  compliments  to  Cajjt.    I'orter,  and   hopes  he  is  well.' 

"  I'orter  replied,  '  Wry  well,  I  thank  you.  lUit  I  hope  you  will  not 
come  too  near,  for  fear  some  accident  mi^ht  take  place  which  would  be 
disai;reeable  to  y(»u.'  And,  with  a  wave  of  his  trumpet,  the  ked^e-anchors 
went  up  to  our  sard-arms,  reaily  to  {.'.rapple  the  eneni\. 

"Capl.  IIill)ar  braced  back  his  yards,  and  remarked  to  I'orter,  that,  if 
he  did  fall  aboard  him,  he  beygeil  to  assure  the  captain  th.il  it  woulil  be 
entirely  acciilenlal. 

"'Well,'  saiti  I'orter,  'you  have  no  businer.s  where  you  are.  If  you 
touch  a  rope  varn  of  this  ship,   I  shall  board  instantly.'" 

Notwithstandin;;  I'orter's  forbearance,  the  incident  came  near  leading.; 
to  a  battle,  throu^^h  the  action  of  one  of  the  irew.  who  had  come  off 
from  shore  with  his  brain  rather  hazy  from  heavy  drinkinj;.  This  man 
was  standin;;  by  a  j;un,  with  a  lighted  brand  in  his  hand,  ready  to  fire 
the  piece,  when  he  thouj^ht  he  saw  an  I'ai;;lishman  {grinning  at  him 
throuLch  r.ne  of  the  open  ports  of  the  "  I'hccbe."  Highly  enraged,  he 
shouted  out,  "My  fine  fellow,  I'll  soon  stop  your  making  faces!"  and 
reacheil  out  to  fire  the  gun  ;  when  a  heavy  blow  from  an  officer,  who 
saw  the  action,  stretched  him  on  the  deck.  Had  that  gun  been  fired, 
nothing  could  have  .saved  the  "I'luybc." 


HLUK-JACKKIS  Ol'    1S12. 


2<nj 


The  two  hostile  ships  cast  aiuhor  within  iini-  -iin-shot  i>l'  the  Ann  ri 
cans,  and  seemed  jjiepared  for  a  lon;^  season  in  pnit.  I-Or  tJK-  next  Irw 
weeks  the  Ihitish  and  American  olfuers  and  scanu  n  nut  freqiientlv  on 
shore;  and  a  kind  of  friendship  sprang  up  l)ctween  them,  althou.:;h  they 
were  merely  waiting;  for  a  favorahle  monunt  to  he^in  a  deadly  strife. 
Some  incidents,  however,  took  place  which  rather  disturbed  the  amicai>Ie 
relations  of  the  two  parties.  At  the  masthead  of  the  "  l'-sse.\  '  iloaled 
a  fla^;  bearing;  the  motto,  "  l"'ree  Trade  and  Sailors'  Ri,L;hts."  This 
Ha>;  j;ave  j^reat  offence  to  the  British,  who  soon  displayed  a  Hag  with 
the  inscription,  "(idd  and  Country,  Hritish  Sailors"  Hest  Rights.  Traitors 
offend  both."  lo  this  Americans  responded  with,  "God,  our  Country 
and  Liberty.  Tyrants  offend  them."  Here  the  debate  iloscd,  and 
seemed  to  arouse  no  unfriendly  feelinj; ;  for  Porter  and  Ilillyar  talked 
it  over  amicably  on  shore.  In  the  course  of  this  conversation,  I'orter 
challenged  the  "  Phccbe  '  to  meet  the  "  Esse.x "  alone;  i)ut  Ilillyar  ile- 
clined  the  proposition.  Shortly  after  this,  the  crews  ot  the  '.loslile  ships 
began  the  practice  of  singing  songs  af  each  other;  the  Americans  begin- 
ning with  "Yankee  Doodle,'  while  the  British  retorted  with  "  (jod  save 
thi'  King."  Then  the  poets  of  the  forecastle  set  to  work,  and  ground 
out  verses  that  would  prove  particularly  obno.xious  to  the  enemy.  <">iu'  of 
the  American  songs  recited  at  full  length  the  capnue  of  the  "  (iuerriere." 
The  ch.iracter  of  tiie  poetry  may  be  judged   by  the  fir^i   verse. 


"No  i;irs    )l  i>iir  cnuniiy.  wlio  .six-k  iin  the  main 
Tlie  caiisi;  I'm-  tin-  wroiij^s  yi)ur  country  siist.iin, 
Ki'iditc  and  1)0  nu'iry,  lor  lirai,':;intj  John   lUill 
lias  j;ot  a  sound  drubltin;^  troni  brave  Capt.  Hull.' 


The  Ih"itish   nspondeil  with   triumphant  verses  upon  the  captun-  of  the 

"Chesapeake,"  news  of  which   had   just   nacluii  V'alparai.so.     Their  poetry 

was  cpate  as  bad. 

••  liravi-   llroki-  Ik:   w.ucd   Iiis  ^word, 

.\nd  111-  I  rii'il,  •  N'liw,  l.uis,  alioard  ; 

And  We'll  ^tiip  tlitir  •"injfini;, 

Yankci-   Doodle   Dandv,  <)!'" 


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270 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


Porter  now  wished  to  get  rid  of  some  of  the  prizes  with  which  he  was 
encumbered.  He  could  not  burn  them  in  the  harbor,  and  the  British 
ships  kept  too  close  a  watch  upon  him  to  permit  his  ships  to  leave  the 
harbor  for  an  hour  :  so  he  was  forced  to  wait  many  days  for  an  oppor- 
tunity. On  the  14th  of  February  the  opportunity  came;  and  the  "Hector" 
was  towed  out  to  sea,  and  set  a-fire.  Two  weeks  later,  the  "  Phcebe " 
came  alone  to  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  and,  after  showing  her  motto 
flag,  hove  to,  and  fired  a  gun  to  windward.  This  Porter  understood  to  be 
a  challenge,  and  he  at  once  put  out  in  the  "Essex."  But  the  "Phoebe" 
had  no  intention  of  entering  a  fair  and  equal  fight ;  for  she  quickly  joined 
her  consort,  and  the  two  then  chased  the  "Essex"  back  to  port.  iMuch 
talk  and  a  vast  deal  of  correspondence  grew  out  of  this  affair,  which 
certainly  did  not  redound  to  the  credit  of  the  British. 

On  the  28th  of  March  the  wind  blew  with  such  force  that  the  larboard 
cable  of  the  "  Essex "  parted ;  and  the  ship,  drifting  before  the  wind, 
dragged  her  starboard  cable  out  to  sea.  Knowing  that  the  British  ships 
were  in  waiting  outside.  Porter  lost  no  time  in  getting  on  sail  and  trying 
to  beat  back  into  the  harbor.  But,  just  as  the  ship  was  rounding  the 
point,  there  came  up  a  heavy  squall,  which  carried  away  the  main  top- 
mast, throwing  several  topmen  into  the  sea.  In  her  disabled  state  the 
frigate  could  not  regain  the  harbor ;  but  she  ran  into  a  little  cove,  and 
anchored  within  half  pistol-shot  of  the  shore.  Here  she  was  in  neutral 
waters;  and,  had  Capt.  Hillyar  been  a  man  of  his  word,  the  "Essex" 
would  have  been  safe  :  for  that  ofificer,  on  being  asked  by  Porter  whether 
he  would  respect  the  neutrality  of  the  port,  had  replied  with  much  feel- 
ing, "  You  have  paid  so  much  respect  to  the  neutrality  of  the  port,  that 
I  feel  bound  in  honor  to  respect  it."  But  he  very  quickly  forgot  this 
respect,  when  he  saw  his  enemy  lying  crippled  and  in  his  power,  although 
in  neutral  waters. 

Hardly  had  the  "  Essex  "  cast  anchor,  when  the  two  British  ships  drew 
near,  their  actions  plainly  showing  that  they  intended  to  attack  the  crippled 
frigate.  The  "  Essex  "  was  prepared  for  action,  the  guns  beat  to  quarters  ; 
and  the  men  went  to  their  places  coolly  and  bravely,  though  each  felt  at 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


271 


his  heart  that  he  was  going  into  a  hopeless  fight.  The  midshipmen  had 
hardly  finished  calling  over  the  quarter-lists,  to  see  that  every  man  was  at 
his  station,  whe.i  the  roar  of  the  cannon  from  the  British  ships  announced 
the  opening  of  the  action.  The  "Phoebe"  had  taken  up  a  position 
under  the  stern  of  the  American  frigate,  and  pounded  away  with  her  long 
eighteens;  while  the  "Essex"  could  hardly  get  a  gun  to  bear  in  return. 
The  "Cherub"  tried  her  fortune  on  the  bow,  but  was  soon  driven  from 
that  position,  and  joined  her  consort.  The  two  kept  up  a  destructive 
fire,  until  Porter  got  three  long  guns  out  of  the  cabin-windows,  and  drove 
the  enemy  away.  After  repairing  damages,  the  British  took  up  a  position 
just  out  of  range  of  the  "Essex's"  carronades,  and  began  a  rapid  and 
effective  fire  from  their  long  eighteens. 

Such  an  action  as  this  was  very  trying  to  the  crew  of  the  "  Essex." 
The  carronades  against  which  Porter  had  protested  when  his  ship  was 
armed  were  utterly  useless  against  an  enemy  who  used  such  cautious 
tactics.  On  the  deck  of  the  frigate  men  were  falling  on  every  side.  One 
shot  entered  a  port,  and  killed  four  men  who  stood  at  a  gun,  taking  off 
the  heads  of  the  last  two.  The  crash  and  roar  of  the  flying  shots  were 
incessant.  As  the  guns  became  crippled  for  lack  of  men,  the  junior  officers 
took  a  hand  in  all  positions.  Farragut  writes,  "  I  performed  the  duty  of 
captain's  aid,  quarter-gunner,  powder-boy,  and,  in  fact,  did  every  thing 
that  was  required  of  me.  .  .  .  When  my  services  were  not  required  for 
other  purposes,  I  generally  assisted  in  working  a  gur;  ;  would  run  and 
bring  powder  from  the  boys,  and  send  them  back  for  more,  until  the 
captain  wanted  me  to  carry  a  message  ;  and  this  continued  to  occupy  me 
during  the  action."  Once  during  the  action  a  midshipman  came  running 
up  to  Porter,  and  reported  that  a  gunner  had  deserted  his  post.  Porter's 
reply  was  to  Kirn  to  Farragut  (the  lad  was  only  twelve  years  old),  and 
say,  "Do  your  duty,  sir."  The  boy  seized  a  pistol,  and  ran  away  to  find 
the  coward,  and  shoot  him  in  his  tracks.  But  the  gunner  had  slipped 
overboard,  and  made  his  way  to  the  shore,  and  so  escaped. 

After  the  "  Essex "  had  for  some  time  suffered  from  the  long-range 
fire  of  the  enemy,  Capt.   Porter  determined  to  make  sail,  and  try  to  close 


272 


IiI,UK-JACKK'rS   OV    1 81 2. 


i 


|:i       t 


with  his  foes.  The  rigging  had  been  so  badly  shot  away  that  the  flying 
jib  was  the  only  sail  that  could  be  properly  set.  With  this,  and  with 
the  other  sails  hanging  loose  from  the  yards,  the  "  Essex "  ran  down 
upon  the  British,  and  made  such  lively  play  with  her  carronades,  that  the 
"Cherub"  was  forced  to  haul  off  for  repairs,  and  the  tide  of  war  seemed 
to  be  setting  in  favor  of  the  Americans.  But,  though  the  gallant  blue- 
jackets fought  with  desperation,  their  chances  for  success  were  small. 
The  decks  were  strewn  with  dead,  the  cock-pit  was  full,  and  the  enemy's 
shot  were  constantly  adding  to  the  number  of  dead  and  dying.  Young 
Farragut,  who  had  been  sent  below  after  some  gun-primers,  was  coming 
up  the  ladder,  when  a  man  standing  at  the  opening  of  the  hatchway  was 
struck  full  in  the  face  by  a  cannon-ball,  and  fell  back,  carrying  the  lad 
with  him.  The  mutilated  body  fell  full  upon  the  boy,  who  lay  for  a  time 
unconscious ;  then,  jumping  to  his  feet,  ran,  covered  with  blood,  to  the 
quarter-deck.  Capt.  Porter  saw  him,  and  asked  if  he  was  wounded.  "  I 
believe  not,  sir,"  answered  the  midshipman.  "Then,"  said  the  captain, 
"  where  are  the  primers } "  Farragut  remembered  his  errand,  and  dashed 
below  to  execute  it.  When  he  emerged  the  second  time,  he  saw  the  captain 
(his  adopted  father)  fall,  and  running  up  asked  if  he  was  wounded.  "  I  be- 
lieve not,  my  son,"  was  the  response  ;  "  but  I  felt  a  blow  on  the  top  of  my 
head."     He  had  probably  been  knocked  down  by  the  wind  of  a  passing  shot. 

But  the  end  of  the  action  was  now  near.  Dreadful  havoc  had  been 
made  in  the  ranks  of  both  officers  and  men.  The  cock-pit  would  hold 
no  more  wounded  ;  and  the  shots  were  beginning  to  penetrate  its  walls, 
killing  the  sufferers  waiting  for  the  surgeon's  knife.  Lieut.  McKnight 
was  the  only  commissioned  officer  on  duty.  The  ship  had  been  several 
times  on  fire,  and  the  magazine  was  endangered.  Finally,  the  carpenter 
reported  that  her  bottom  was  so  cut  up  that  she  could  float  but  a  little 
while  longer.  On  learning  this.  Porter  gave  the  order  for  the  colors  to  be 
hauled  down,  which  was  done.  The  enemy,  however,  kept  up  their  deadly 
fire  for  ten  minutes  after  the  "  Essex  "  had  struck. 

David  Farragut  narrates  some  interesting  incidents  of  the  surrender. 
He  was  sent  by  the  captain  to  find  and   destroy  the    signal   book   before 


, 


lit  .1    > 


w 


CAPTURE   OF    THE    ESbEX. 


■\  :i 


!, 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


275 


the  British  should  come  aboard ;  and,  this  having  been  done,  he  went 
to  the  cock-pit  to  look  after  his  friends.  Here  he  found  Lieut.  Cornell 
terribly  wounded.  When  Farragut  spoke  to  him,  he  said,  "O  Davy,  I 
fear  it's  all  up  with  me !  "  and  died  soon  after.  The  doctor  said,  that,  had 
this  officer  been  operated  upon  an  hour  before,  his  life  might  have  been 
saved;  but' when  the  surgeons  proposed  to  drop  another  man,  and  attend 
to  him,  he  replied,  "  No,  no,  doctor,  none  of  that.  Fair  play's  a  jewel. 
One  man's  life  is  as  dear  as  another's ;  I  would  not  cheat  any  poor  fellow 
out  of  his  turn."  Surely  history  nowhere  records  more  noble  generosity. 
Soon  after  this,  when  Farragut  was  standing  on  the  deck,  a  little  negro 
boy  came  running  up  to  inquire  about  his  master,  Lieut.  VVilmer,  who 
had  been  knocked  over  by  a  shot.  On  learning  his  master's  fate,  he 
leaped  over  the  taffrail  into  the  sea,  and  was  drowned. 

After  the  "  Essex  "  had   been   formally   surrendered,  boats   were   sent 
to  convey  the  prisoners  to  the  British  ships.     In   one   of  these  Farragut 
was  carried  to  the  "  Phoebe,"  and  there  fell  into  a  second  battle,  in  which 
the  victory  remained  with  him.     "  I  was  so  mortified  at  our  capture  that 
I  could  not  refrain  from  tears,"  he  writes.     "  While  in  this  uncomfortable 
state,  I  was  aroused  by  hearing  a  young  reefer  call  out,  — 
"'A  prize!  a  prize!     Ho,  boys,  a  fine  grunter,  by  Jove.' 
•'  I  saw  at  once   that   he   had   under  his   arm  a  pet   pig   belonging   to 
our  ship,  called  'Murphy.'     I  claimed  the  animal  as  my  own. 
"'Ah,'  said  he,  'but  you  are  a  prisoner,  and  your  pig  also!' 
" '  We  always  respect  private  property,'  I  replied  ;  and,  as  I  had  seized 
hold    of   'Murphy,'    I    determined   not    to    let    go    unless    'compelled    by 
superior  force.' 

"This  was  fun  for  the  oldsters,  who  immediately  sung  out, — 
"  '  Go  it,  my  little  Yankee.     If  you  can  thrash  Shorty,  you  can  have 
your  pig.' 

"  '  Agreed,'  cried  I. 

"A  ring  was  formed  in  an  open  space,  and  at  it  we  went.  I  soon 
found  that  my  antagonist's  pugilistic  education  did  not  come  up  to  mine. 
In   fact,  he   was   no   match   for  me,  and   was  compelled   to   give   up   the 


I! 


ii 


III 


iiij 


T 


276 


BLUL-JACKETS   OF    181 2. 


4 


I '     ^5 


pig.  So  I  took  Master  Murphy  under  my  arm,  feeling  that  I  had  in 
some  degree  wiped  out  the  disgrace  of  the  defeat." 

When  the  British  ships  with  their  prize  returned  to  the  quiet  waters 
of  the  harbor,  and  began  to  take  account  of  damages,  it  was  found  that 
the  "  Essex "  had  indeed  fought  a  losing  fight.  On  the  "  Phoebe,!'  but 
four  men  were  killed,  and  seven  wounded  ;  on  the  "  Cherub,"  one  killed 
and  three  wounded,  made  up  the  list  of  casualties.  But  on  the  "  Essex  " 
were  fifty-eight  killed,  and  sixty-six  wounded ;  while  an  immense  number 
of  men  were  missing,  who  may  have  escaped  to  the  shore  or  may  have 
sunk  beneath  the  waves.  Certain  it  is  some  swimmers  reached  shore, 
though  sorely  wounded.  One  man  had  rushed  on  deck  with  his  clothing 
all  aflame,  and  swam  ashore,  though  scarcely  a  square  inch  could  be 
found  on  his  body  which  was  not  burned.  Another  seaman  had  sixteen 
or  eighteen  scales  of  iron  chipped  from  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  driven 
into  his  legs,  yet  he  reached  the  shore  in  .safety. 

After  some  delay,  the  "  Essex  Junior "  was  disarmed ;  and  the  pris- 
oners, having  given  their  paroles,  were  placed  on  board  her,  with  a  letter 
of  safe-conduct  from  Capt.  Hillyar  to  prevent  their  capture  by  any 
British  man-of-war  in  whose  path  they  might  fall.  But  this  letter  availed 
them  little  ;  for,  after  an  uneventful  voyage  to  the  northward,  the  "  Essex 
Junior "  found  herself  brought  to  by  a  shot  from  the  British  frigate 
"  Saturn,"  off  Sandy  Hook.  The  boarding-ofificer  took  Capt.  Hillyar's 
letter  to  the  commander  of  the  "  Saturn,"  who  remarked  that  Hillyar 
had  no  authority  to  make  any  such  agreement,  and  ordered  the  "  Essex 
Junior "  to  remain  all  night  under  the  lee  of  the  British  ship.  Capt. 
Porter  was  highly  indignant,  and  handed  his  sword  to  the  British  officer, 
saying  that  he  considered  himself  a  prisoner.  But  the  Englishman 
declined  the  sword,  and  was  about  to  return  to  his  ship,  when  Porter 
said,  "Tell  the  captain  that  I  am  his  prisoner,  and  do  not  consider  my- 
self any  longer  bound  by  my  contract  with  Capt.  Hillyar,  which  he  has 
violated;  and  I  shall  act  accordingly."  By  this  Porter  meant  that  he  now 
considered  himself  absolved  from  his  parole,  and  free  to  escape  honorably 
if  an  opportunity  should  offer. 


-  I 

i 


i  ' 


BLUH-JACKKl'S   OK    1812. 


77 


Accordingly  at  seven  o'clock  the  following  morning,  a  boat  was 
stealthily  lowered  from  the  "  I'^ssex  Junior;"  and  Porter,  descending  into 
it,  started  for  the  shore,  leaving  a  message,  that,  since  British  officers 
showed  so  little  regard  for  each  other's  honor,  he  had  no  desire  to  trust 
himself  in  their  hands.  The  boat  had  gone  some  distance  before  she 
was  sighted  by  the  lookout  on  the  "  Saturn,"  for  the  hull  of  the  "  Essex 
Junior "  hid  her  from  sight.  As  soon  as  the  flight  was  noticed,  the 
frigate  made  sail  in  chase,  and  seemed  likely  to  overhaul  the  audacious 
fugitives,  when  a  thick  fog  set  in,  under  cover  of  which  Porter  reached 
Babylon,  L.I.,  nearly  sixty  miles  distant.  In  the  mean  time,  the  "Essex 
Junior,"  finding  herself  hidden  from  the  frigate  by  the  fog-bank,  set  sail, 
and  made  for  the  mouth  of  the  harbor.  She  was  running  some  nine 
knots  an  hour  when  the  fog  showed  signs  of  lifting;  and  she  came  up 
into  the  wind,  that  the  suspicion  of  the  British  might  not  be  aroused 
As  it  happened,  the  "  Saturn  "  was  close  alongside  when  the  fog  lifted, 
and  her  boat  soon  came  to  the  American  ship.  An  ofificer,  evidently 
very  irate,  bounded  upon  the  deck,  and  said  brusquely, — 

"You  must  have  been  drifting  very  fast.  We  have  been  making  nine 
knots  an  hour,  and  yet  here  you  are  alongside." 

"  So  it  appears,"  responded  the  American  lieutenant  coolly. 

"We  saw  a  boat  leave  you,  some  time  ago,"  continued  the  English- 
man.    "I  suppose  Capt.  Porter  went  in  it.'" 

"Yes.     You  are  quite  right." 

"And  probably  more  of  you  will  run  away,  unless  I  cut  away  your 
boats  from  the  davits." 

"  Perhaps  that  would  be  a  good  plan  for  you  to  adopt." 

"And  I  would  do  it  very  quickly,  if  the  question  rested  with  me." 

"  You  infernal  puppy,"  shouted  the  American  officer,  now  thoroughly 
aroused,  "if  you  have  any  duty  to  do,  do  it ;  but,  if  you  insult  me  further, 
ril  throw  you  overboard  !  " 

With  a  few  inarticulate  sounds,  the  Englishman  stepped  into  his  boat, 
and  was  pulled  back  to  the  "Saturn,"  whence  soon  returned  a  second 
boat,  bearing  an  apology  for  the  boarding-officer's  rudeness.     The  boarders 


lii 


r 


278 


T.I.UK  JACKF'/rS   OF    1S12. 


then  searched  all  parts  of  the  ship,  mustered  her  crew  on  the  plea  that 
it  contained  British  deserters,  and  finally  released  her,  after  having  inflicted 
every  jiossible  humiliation  upon  her  officers.  The  "Essex  Junior"  then 
proceeded  to  New  York,  where  she  was  soon  joined  by  Capt.  Porter. 
The  whole  country  united  in  ooing  honor  to  the  officers,  overlooking  the 
defeat  which  closed  their  cruise,  and  regarding  only  the  persistent  bravery 
with  which  they  had  upheld  the  cause  of  the  United  States  in  the  far-off 
waters  of  the  Pacific. 

Before  closing  the  account  of  Porter's  famous  cruise,  the  story  of  the 
ill-fortune  which  befell  Lieut.  Gamble  should  be  related.  This  officer,  it 
will  be  remembered,  was  left  at  Nookaheevah  with  the  prizes  "  Green- 
wich," "  Seringapatam,"  and  "Hammond."  Hardly  had  the  frigate  disap- 
peared below  the  horizon,  when  the  natives  began  to  grow  unruly ;  and 
Gamble  was  forced  to  lead  several  armed  expeditions  against  them.  Then 
the  sailors  under  his  charge  l>egan  to  show  signs  of  mutiny.  He  found 
himself  almost  without  means  of  enforcing  his  authority,  and  the  disaffec- 
tion spread  daily.  The  natives,  incited  by  the  half-savage  Englishman 
who  had  been  found  upon  the  island,  began  to  make  depredations  ujjon 
the  live-stock  ;  while  the  women  would  swim  out  to  the  ships  by  night, 
and  purloin  bread,  aided  by  their  lovers  among  the  crews.  To  the  lieu- 
tenant's remonstrances,  the  natives  replied  that  "  Opotee  "  was  not  coming 
back,  and  they  would  do  as  they  chose ;  while  the  sailors  heard  his  orders 
with  ill-concealed  contempt,  and  made  but  a  pretext  of  obeying  them.  In 
the  middle  of  April  three  sailors  stole  a  boat  from  the  "Greenwich,"  and, 
•tocking  it  well  with  ammunition  and  provisions,  deserted,  and  were  never 
again  seen.  One  month  later,  mutiny  broke  out  in  its  worst  form.  Lieut. 
Gamble  and  his  two  midshipmen,  being  upon  the  "  Seringapatam,"  were 
knocked  down  by  the  sailors,  gagged,  bound,  and  thrust  into  the  hold. 
The  mutineers  then  went  ashore,  spiked  the  guns  in  the  fort,  and  then, 
hoisting  the  British  colors  over  the  captured  ship,  set  sail.  Lieut.  Gamble 
was  badly  wounded  in  the  foot  by  a  pistol-shot  fired  by  one  of  his  guards. 
Notwithstanding  his  wound,  he,  with  the  two  lieutenants  and  two  loyal 
seamen,  was  turned  adrift  in  an  open  boat.    After  long  and  painful  exertions. 


'   I 


f^ 


^m 


BLUE-JACKK'IS   OF    1.S12. 


279 


they  reached  the  shore,  and  returned  to  the  hay,  where  the  "Greenwich" 
still  lay  at  anchor.  The  mutineers,  thirteen  of  whom  were  Englishmen  who 
had  enlisted  in  the  American  service,  steered  boldly  out  to  sea,  and  were 
nevermore  heard  of.  The  half-savage  Englishman,  Wilson,  was  supposed 
to  be  at  the  bottom  of  this  uprising,  and  some  days  later  a  boat's  crew 
from  the  "Greenwich"  went  ashore  to  capture  him.  Soon  after,  (iamble, 
an.xiously  watching  the  shore,  saw  a  struggle  upon  the  beach,  the  natives 
rushing  down  on  all  sides,  the  boat  overturned  in  the  surf,  and  two  white 
men  swimming  towards  the  ship,  making  signals  of  distress.  IVIr,  Clapn, 
with  two  men,  sprang  into  a  boat,  and  put  off  to  the  aid  of  the  swim- 
mers, leaving  Gamble  alone  on  the  ship.  Two  large  canoes  loaded  with 
savages  then  left  the  beach,  and  swiftly  bore  down  towards  the  "  Essex  ; " 
but  Gamble,  lamed  though  he  was,  seized  a  lighted  brand,  and  hobbled 
along  the  deck  of  the  ship,  firing  her  guns  with  such  effect  that  the 
savages  were  driven  back,  the  beach  cleared,  and  Mr.  Clapp  enabled  to 
save  the  two  struggling  men.  When  the  boat  returned  to  the  ship,  it 
was  learned  that  Midshipman  Feltus  and  five  men  had  been  basely 
murdered  by  the  .savages.  There  were  now  left  but  seven  Americans ; 
and  of  these  but  two  were  well,  and  fit  for  duty.  Setting  the  "Green- 
wich "  on  fire,  this  little  band  boarded  the  "  Hammond,"  and  made  their 
way  to  sea.  But  between  the  Sandwich  Islands  and  Honolulu  they  fell  in 
with  the  "  Cherub,"  by  whom  they  were  captured,  and  kept  prisoners  for 
nine  months,  when,  peace  being  declared,  they  were  released. 

So   ended   the  last   incident   of    the    gallant    cruis^'    of    the   "Essex." 
History  has  few  more  adventurous  tales  to  relate. 


rti 


II 


III 


-s>%l 


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'pi'.:-  /€^ 


CIIArTHR   XII. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  "  SURVEYOR.' —WORK  OF  THE  GUNBOAT  FLOTILLA. —  OPERATIONS  ON 
CHESAPEAKE  I!AY.  —  COCKIiURN'S  DEPREDATIONS.  —  CRUISE  OF  THE  '"  ARGU.S."  -  HER 
CAPTURE  \\\  THE  "PELICAN." -BATTLE  OF  THE  "  ENTERPRISE"  AND  "  BOXER."- END  OF 
THE  YEAR   1813  ON  THE  OCEAN. 


ITH  the  capture  of  the  "Chesapeake"  in  June,  1813,  we  aban- 
doned our  story  of  the  naval  events  along  the  coast  of  the 
United  States,  to  follow  Capt.  Porter  and  his  daring  seamen 
on  their  long  cruise  into  far-off  o^as.  But  while  the  men  of 
the  "  Essex "  were  capturing  whalers  in  the  Pacific,  chastising"  insolent 
savages  at  Nookaheevah,  and  fighting  a  gallant  but  unsuccessful  fight  at 
Valparaiso,  other  blue-iackets  were  as  gallantly  serving  their  country 
nearer  home.  From  Portsmouth  to  Charleston  the  coast  was  watched  by 
British  ships,  and  collisions  between  the  enemies  were  of  almost  daily 
occurrence.     In  many  of  these  actions  great  bravery  was  shown  on  both 

a8o 


III 


I'.IAK-JACKKTS   OI'    1812. 


2S1 


sides.  Noticeably  was  this  the  case  in  the  action  between  the  cutter 
"Surveyor"  and  the  British  friijate  "Narcissus,"  on  the  nij;ht  of  June 
12.  The  "Surveyor,"  a  little  craft  manned  by  a  crew  of  fifteen  nion, 
and  mountin<;  six  twelve-pound  carronades,  was  lying  in  the  York  River 
near  Chesapeake  liay.  I-'rom  the  masthead  of  the  "  Narcissus,"  lyinj; 
farther  down  the  bay,  the  spars  of  the  cutter  could  be  seen  above  the 
tree-tops  ;  and  an  expedition  was  fitted  out  for  her  capture.  Fifty  men, 
led  by  a  veteran  officer,  attacked  the  little  vessel  in  the  darkness,  but 
were  met  with  a  most  determined  resistance.  The  Americans  could  not 
use  their  carronades,  but  with  their  muskets  they  did  much  execution 
in  the  enemy's  ranks.  But  they  were  finally  overpowered,  and  the  little 
cutter  was  towed  down  under  the  frigate's  guns.  The  next  day  Mr. 
Travis,  the  American  commai  <!(M-,  received  his  sword  which  he  had  sur- 
rendered, with  a  letter  from  I  lie  British  commander,  in  which  he  said, 
"Your  gallant  and  desp»\  -te  attempt  tr  defend  your  vessel  against  more 
than  double  yoi^r  number,  on  the  light  of  the  12th  inst.,  excited  such 
admiration  on  the  part  of  vou.  npponents  as  I  have  seldom  witnessed, 
and  induced  n.e  to  rcL'rn  \ou  the  sword  you  had  so  nobly  used,  in 
testimony  of  mine.  ...  In  shoii,  I  am  at  a  loss  which  to  admire  most, 
the  previous  arrangement  on  board  the  '  Surveyor,'  or  the  determined 
manner  in  which  her  deck  was  disputed,  inch  by  inch." 

During  the  summer  of  181 3,  the  little  gunboats,  built  in  accordance 
with  President  Jefferson's  plan  for  a  coast  guard  of  single-gun  vessels, 
did  a  great  deal  of  desultory  fighting,  which  resulted  in  little  or  nothing. 
They  were  not  very  seaworthy  craft,  the  heavy  guns  mounted  amidships 
causing  them  to  careen  far  over  in  even  a  sailor's  "  capfull "  of  wind. 
When  they  went  into  action,  the  first  shot  from  the  gun  set  the  gunboat 
rocking  so  that  further  fire  with  any  precision  of  aim  war.  impossible. 
The  larger  gunboats  carried  sail  enough  to  enable  them  to  cruise  about 
the  coast,  keeping  off  privateers  and  checking  the  marauding;  expeditions 
of  the  British.  Many  of  the  gunboats,  however,  were  simply  large  gallics 
propelled  with  oars,  and  therefore  confined  in  their  operations  to  bays  and 
inland  waters.     The  chief  scene  of  their  operations  was  Chesapeake  Bay. 


Ml 


if  '■ 

Y 

1; 

I    ■ 

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282 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    18 12. 


h;     I' 


This  noble  sheet  'f  water  had  been,  since  the  very  opening  of  the 
year  181 3,  under  the  control  of  the  British,  who  had  gathered  there  their 
most  powerful  vessels  under  the  command  of  Admiral  Cockburn,  whose 
name  gained  an  unenviable  notoriety  for  the  atrocities  committed  by  his 
forces  upon  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  the  shores  of  Chesapeake  Bay. 
Marauding  expeditions  were  continually  sent  from  the  fleet  to  search  the 
adjacent  country  for  supplies.  When  this  method  of  securing  provisions 
failed,  Cockburn  hit  upon  the  plan  of  bringing  his  fleet  within  range  of 
a  village,  and  then  commanding  the  inhabitants  to  supply  his  needs, 
under  i^enalty  of  the  instant  bombardment  of  the  town  in  case  of  refusal. 
Sometimes  this  expedient  failed,  as  when  Commodore  Beresford,  who 
was  blockading  the  Delaware,  called  upon  the  people  of  Dover  to  supply 
him  at  once  with  "  twenty-five  large  bullocks  and  a  proportionate  quantity 
of  vegetables  and  hay."  But  the  sturdy  inhabitants  refused,  mustered 
the  militia,  dragged  some  old  cannon  down  to  the  water-side,  and,  for  lack 
of  cannon-balls  of  their  own,  valiantly  fired  back  those  thrown  by  the 
British,  which  fitted  the  American  ordnance  exactly. 

Soon  after  this  occurrence,  a  large  party  from  Cockburn's  fleet  landed 
at  Havre  de  Grace,  and,  having  driven  away  the  few  militia,  captured 
and  burned  the  town.  Having  accomplished  this  exploit,  the  marauders 
continued  their  way  up  the  bay,  and  turning  up  into  the  Sassafras  River 
ravaged  the  country  on  both  sides  of  the  little  stream.  After  spreading 
distress  far  and  wide  over  the  beautiful  country  that  borders  Chesapeake 
Bay,  the  vandals  returned  to  their  ships,  boasting  that  they  had  despoiled 
the  Americans  of  at  least  seventy  thousand  dollars,  and  injured  them 
to  the  amount  of  ten  times  that  sum. 

By  June,  1813,  the  Americans  saw  that  something  must  be  done  to 
check  the  merciless  enemy  who  had  thus  revived  the  cruel  vandalism, 
which  had  ceased  to  attend  civilized  warfare  since  the  middle  ages.  A 
fleet  of  fifteen  armed  gallies  was  fitted  out  to  attack  the  frigate  of  Cock- 
burn's  fleet  that  lay  nearest  to  Norfolk.  Urged  forward  by  long  sweeps, 
the  gunboats  bore  down  upon  the  frigate,  which,  taken  by  surprise,  made 
so  feeble  and  irregular  a  response  that  the  Americans  thought   they  saw 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


283 


victory  within  their  grasp.  The  gunboats  chose  their  distance,  and 
opened  a  well-directed  fire  upon  their  huge  enemy,  that,  like  a  hawk 
attacked  by  a  crowd  of  sparrows,  soon  turned  to  fly.  But  at  this  moment 
the  wind  changed,  enabling  two  frigates  which  were  at  anchor  lower  down 
the  bay  to  come  up  to  the  aid  of  their  consort.  The  American  gun- 
boats drew  off  slowly,  firing  as  they  departed. 

This  attack  infused  new  energy  into  the  British,  and  they  at  once 
began  formidable  preparations  for  an  attack  upon  Norfolk.  On  the  20th 
of  June  they  moved  forward  to  the  assault,  —  three  seventy-four-gun  ships, 
one  sixty-four,  four  frigates,  two  sloops,  and  three  transports.  They  were 
opposed  by  the  American  forces  stationed  on  Craney  Island,  which  com- 
mands the  entrance  to  Norfolk  Harbor.  Here  the  Americans  had  thrown 
up  earthworks,  mounting  two  twenty-four,  one  eighteen,  and  four  si.\ 
pound  cannon.  To  work  this  battery,  one  hundred  sailors  from  the  "  Con- 
stellation," together  with  fifty  marines,  had  been  sent  ashore.  A  large 
body  of  militia  and  a  few  soldiers  of  the  regular  army  were  also  in 
camp  upon  the  island. 

The  British  set  the  22d  as  the  date  for  the  attack ;  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  that  day,  fifteen  latgo  boats,  filled  with  .sailors,  marines,  and  sol- 
diers to  the  number  of  seven  hundred,  init  off  from  the  ships,  and  dashed 
toward  the  batteries.  At  the  same  time  a  larger  force  trietl  to  move 
forward  by  land,  but  were  driven  back,  to  wait  until  their  comrades  in 
the  boats  should  have  stormed  and  silenced  the  American  battery.  But 
that  battery  was  not  to  be  silenced.  After  checking  the  advance  of  the 
British  by  land,  the  Americans  waited  coolly  for  the  column  of  boats  to 
come  within  point-bL'^nk  range.  On  they  came,  bounding  over  the  waves, 
led  by  the  great  barge  "CeuUpcdc,"  fifty  feet  long,  and  crowded  with 
men.  The  blue-jackets  in  the  shore  battery  stood  silently  at  their  guns. 
Suddenly  there  arose  a  cry,  "Now,  boys,  are  you  ready?"  "All  ready," 
was  the  response.  "Then  fire!"  And  the  great  guns  hurled  their  lo  ids 
of  lead  and  iron  into  the  advancing  boats.  The  volley  was  a  fearful  one ; 
but  the  British  still  came  on  doggedly,  until  the  fire  of  the  battery  became 
too   terrible   to   be   endured.     "The  American   sailors   handled   the   great 


i 


■5 

I 


1 


I 


I 


284 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    181 2. 


guns  like  rifles,"  said  one  of  the  British  officers,  speaking  of  the  battle. 
Before  this  terrific  fire,  the  advancing  column  was  thrown  into  confusion. 
The  boats,  drifting  upon  each  other,  so  crowded  together  that  the  oars- 
men could  not  make  any  headway.  A  huge  round  shot  struck  the  "  Cen- 
tipede," passing  through  her  diagonally,  leaving  death  and  wounds  in  its 
track.  The  shattered  craft  sunk,  and  was  soon  followed  by  four  others. 
The  order  for  retreat  was  given  ;  and,  leaving  their  dead  and  some  wounded 
in  the  shattered  barges  that  lay  in  the  shallow  water,  the  British  fled  to 
their  ships.  Midshipman  Tatnall,  who,  many  years  later,  served  in  the 
Confederate  navy,  waded  out  with  several  sailors,  and,  seizing  the  "  Cen- 
tipede," drew  her  ashore.  He  found  several  wounded  men  in  her,  —  one  a 
Frenchman,  with  both  legs  shot  away.  A  small  terrier  dog  lay  whimper- 
ing in  the  bow.  His  master  had  brought  him  along  for  a  run  on  shore, 
never  once  thinking  of  the  possibility  of  the  flower  of  the  British  navy 
being  beaten  back  by  the  Americans. 

So  disastrous  a  defeat  enraged  the  British,  who  proceeded  to  wreak 
their  vengeance  upon  the  little  town  of  Hampton,  which  they  sacked 
and  burned,  committing  acts  of  shameful  violence,  more  in  accordance 
with  the  character  of  savages  than  that  of  civi'izcd  white  men.  The 
story  of  the  sack  of  Hampton  forms  no  part  of  the  naval  annals  of  the 
war,  and  in  its  details  is  too  revolting  to  deserve  a  place  here.  It  is 
a  narrative  of  atrocious  cruelty  not  to  be  paralleled  in  the  history  of 
warfare  in  the  nineteenth  century. 

Leaving  behind  him  the  smoking  ruins  of  Hampton,  Cockburn  with 
his  fleet  dropped  down  the  bay,  and,  turning  southward,  cruised  along 
the  coast  of  the  Carolinas.  Anchoring  off  Ocracoke  Inlet,  the  British 
sent  a  fleet  of  armed  barges  into  Pamlico  Sound  to  ravage  the  adjoining 
coast.  Two  privateers  were  found  lying  at  anchor  in  the  sound,  —  the 
"  Anaconda  "  of  New  York,  and  the  "  Atlas  "  of  Philadelphia.  The  British 
forces,  eight  hundred  in  number,  dashed  forward  to  capture  the  two 
vessels.  The  "  Atlas "  fell  an  easy  prey ;  but  the  thirteen  men  of  the 
"Anaconda"  fought  stoutly  until  all  hope  was  gone,  then,  turning  their 
cannon  down  upon  the  decks  of  their  own  vessel,  blew  great  holes  in  her 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


28.S 


bottom,  and  escaped  to  the  shore.  After  this  skirmish,  the  British  landed, 
and  marched  rapidly  to  Newbern  ;  but,  finding  that  place  well  defended 
by  militia,  made  their  way  back  to  the  coast,  desolating  the  country  through 
which  they  passed,  and  seizing  cattle  and  slaves.  The  latter  they  are 
said  to  have  sent  to  the  West  Indies  and  sold.  From  Pamlico  Sound 
Cockburn  went  to  Cumberland  Island,  where  he  established  his  winter 
quarters,  and  whence  he  continued  to  send  out  marauding  expeditions 
during  the  rest  of  the  year. 

Very  different  was  the  character  of  Sir  Thomas  Hardy,  who  com- 
manded the  British  blockading  fleet  off  the  New  England  coast.  A  brave 
and  able  officer,  with  the  nature  and  training  of  a  gentleman,  he  was  as 
much  admired  by  his  enemies  for  his  nobility,  as  Cockburn  was  hated 
for  his  cruelty.  It  is  more  than  possible,  however,  that  the  difference 
between  the  methods  of  enforcement  of  the  blockade  on  the  New  Eng- 
land coast  and  on  the  Southern  seaboard  was  due  to  definite  orders  from 
the  British  admiralty :  for  the  Southern  States  had  entered  into  the  war 
heart  and  soul ;  while  New  England  gave  to  the  American  forces  only  a 
faint-hearted  support,  and  cried  eagerly  for  peace  at  any  cost.  So  strong 
was  this  feeling,  that  resolutions  of  honor  to  the  brave  Capt.  Lawrence 
were  defeated  in  the  Massachusetts  Legislature,  on  the  ground  that  they 
would  encourage  others  to  embark  in  the  needless  war  in.  which  Law- 
rence lost  his  life.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  cause,  however,  the 
fact  remains,  that  Hardy's  conduct  while  on  the  blockade  won  for 
him  the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  very  people  against  whom  his 
forces  were  arrayed. 

On  June  18  the  British  blockaders  off  New  York  Harbor  allowed  a 
little  vessel  to  escape  to  sea,  that,  before  she  could  be  captured,  roamed 
at  will  within  sight  of  the  chalk  cliffs  of  England,  and  inflicted  immense 
damage  upon  the  commerce  of  her  enemy.  This  craft  was  the  little  ten- 
gun  brig  "Argus,"  which  left  New  York  bound  for  France.  She  carried 
as  passenger  Mr.  Crawford  of  Georgia,  who  had  lately  been  appointed 
United  States  minister  to  France.  After  safely  discharging  her  pas- 
senger at  L'Orient,  the  "  Argus  "  turned  into   the  chops  of  the  English 


■ 


I 
I 


286 


BLUF-JACKETS   OF    1S12. 


fill  ' 


r    .       I 


I  i 


Channel,  and  cruised  about,  burning  and  capturing  many  of  the  enemy's 
ships.  She  was  in  the  very  highway  of  British  commerce ;  and  her 
crew  had  little  rest  day  or  night,  so  plentiful  were  the  ships  that 
fell  in  their  way.  It  was  hard  for  the  jackies  to  apply  the  torch  to 
so  many  stanch  vessels,  that  would  enrich  the  whole  crew  with  prize- 
money  could  they  but  be  sent  into  an  American  port.  But  the  little 
cruiser  was  thousands  of  miles  from  any  American  port,  and  no  course 
was  open  to  her  save  to  give  every  prize  to  the  flames.  After  cruising 
for  a  time  in  the  English  Channel,  Lieut.  Allen,  who  commanded  the 
"Argus,"  took  his  vessel  around  Land's  End,  and  into  St.  George's 
Channel  and  the  Irish  Sea.  For  thirty  days  he  continued  his  daring 
operations  in  the  very  waters  into  which  Paul  Jones  had  carried  the 
American  flag  nearly  thirty-five  years  earlier.  British  merchants  and 
shipping  owners  in  London  read  with  horror  of  the  destruction  wrought 
by  this  one  vessel.  Hardly  a  paper  appeared  without  an  account  of  some 
new  damage  done  by  the  "Argus."  Vessels  were  kept  in  port  to  rot  at 
their  dock ;,  rather  than  fall  a  prey  tO  the  terrible  Yankee.  Rates  of 
insurance  went  up  to  ruinous  prices,  and  many  companies  refused  to  take 
any  risks  whatever  so  long  as  the  "Argus"  remained  afloat.  But  the 
hue  and  cry  was  out  after  the  little  vessel ;  and  many  a  stout  British 
frigate  was  beating  up  and  down  in  St.  George's  Channel,  and  the  chops 
of  the  English  Channel,  in  the  hopes  of  falling  in  with  the  audacious 
Yankee,  who  had  presumed  to  bring  home  to  Englishmen  the  horrors 
of  war. 

It  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  brig-sloop  "  Pelican  "  to  rid  the  British  waters 
of  the  "  Argus."  On  the  night  of  the  thirteenth  of  August,  the  Ameri- 
can vessel  had  fallen  in  with  a  British  vessel  from  Oporto,  and  after  a 
short  chase  had  captured  her.  The  usual  result  followed.  The  prisoners 
with  their  personal  property  were  taken  out  of  the  prize,  and  the  vessel 
was  set  afire.  But,  before  the  torch  was  applied,  the  American  sailors 
had  discovered  that  their  prize  was  laden  with  wine ;  and  their  resolution 
was  not  equal  to  the  task  of  firing  the  prize  without  testing  the  quality 
of  the  cargo.     Besides  treating   themselves   to   rather  deep  potations,  the 


BLUE  JACKETS  AT  THE   GUNS. 


'("• 


I  f 


mimm. 


:i:^^ 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


289 


boarding-crew  contrived  to  smuggle  a  quantity  of  the  wine  into  the  fore- 
castle of  the  "Argus."  The  prize  was  then  fired,  and  the  "Argus" 
moved  away  under  easy  sail.  But  the  light  of  the  blazing  ship  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  lookout  on  the  "  Pelican,"  and  that  vessel  came 
down  under  full  sail  to  discover  the  cause. 

Day  was  just  breaking,  and  by  the  gray  morning  light  the  British 
saw  an  American  cruiser  making  away  from  the  burning  hulk  of  her 
last  prize.  The  "  Pelican "  followed  in  hot  pursuit,  and  was  allowed  to 
come  alongside,  although  the  fleet  American  could  easily  have  left  her 
far  astern.  But  Capt.  Allen  was  ready  for  the  conflict ;  confident  of  his 
ship  and  of  his  crew,  of  whose  half-intoxicated  condition  he  knew 
nothing,  he  felt  sure  that  the  coming  battle  would  only  add  more  laurels 
to  the  many  already  won  by  the  "Argus."  He  had  often  declared  that 
the  "Argus"  should  never  run  from  any  two-master;  and  now,  that  the 
gage  of  battle  was  offered,  he  promptly  accepted. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  "  Pelican "  came  alongside,  and 
opened  the  conflict  with  a  broadside  from  her  thirty-two  pound  car- 
ronades.  The  "Argus"  replied  with  spirit,  and  a  sharp  cannonade  began. 
Four  minutes  after  the  battle  opened,  Capt.  Allen  was  struck  by  a 
round  shot  that  cut  off  his  left  leg  near  the  thigh.  His  officers  rushed 
to  his  side,  and  strove  to  bear  him  to  his  cabin  ;  but  he  resisted,  saying 
he  would  stay  on  deck  and  fight  his  ship  as  long  as  any  life  was  left 
him.  With  his  back  to  a  mast,  he  gave  his  orders  and  cheered  on  his 
men  for  a  few  minutes  longer ;  then,  fainting  from  the  terrible  gush  of 
blood  from  his  wound,  was  carried  below.  To  lose  their  captain  so  early 
in  the  action,  was  enough  to  discourage  the  crew  of  the  "Argus."  Yet 
the  officers  left  on  duty  were  brave  and  skilful.  Twice  the  vessel  was 
swung  into  a  raking  position,  but  the  gunners  failed  to  seize  the  advan- 
tage. "They  seemed  to  be  nodding  over  their  guns,"  said  one  of  the 
officers  afterward.  The  enemy,  however,  showed  no  signs  of  nodding. 
His  fire  was  rapid  and  well  directed,  and  his  vessel  manoeuvred  in  a 
way  that  showed  a  practised  seaman  in  command.  At  last  he  secured 
a  position  under  the   stern   of  the  "  Argus,"   and   lay  there,   pouring   in 


i    fl 


%   I 


H  r 


^A 


290 


RLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


destructive  broadsides,  until  the  Americans  struck  their  flag,  —  just  forty- 
seven  minutes  after  the  opening  of  the  action.  The  loss  on  the  "Argus" 
amounted  to  six  killed  and  seventeen  wounded. 

No  action  of  the  war  was  so  discreditable  to  the  Americans  as  this. 
In  the  loss  of  the  "  Chesapeake  "  and  in  the  loss  of  the  "  Essex,"  there 
were  certain  features  of  the  action  that  redounded  greatly  to  the  honor 
of  the  defeated  party.  But  in  the  action  between  the  "  Argus  "  and  the 
"  Pelican,"  the  Americans  were  simply  outfought.  The  vessels  were 
practically  equal  in  size  and  armament,  though  the  "  Pelican "  carried  a 
little  the  heavier  metal.  It  is  also  stated  that  the  powder  used  by  the 
"  Argus  "  was  bad.  It  had  been  taken  from  one  of  the  prizes,  and  after- 
wards proved  to  be  condemned  powder  of  the  British  Government.  In 
proof  of  the  poor  quality  of  this  powder,  one  of  the  American  officers 
states  that  many  shot  striking  the  side  of  the  "Pelican"  were  seen  to 
fall  back  into  the  water ;  while  others  penetrated  the  vessel's  skin,  but 
did  no  further  damage.  All  this,  however,  does  not  alter  the  fact  that 
the  "Argus"  was  fairly  beaten  in  a  fair  fight. 

While  the  British  thus  snapped  up  an  American  man-of-war  cruising  at 
their  harbor.,'  mouths,  the  Americans  were  equally  fortunate  in  capturing 
a  British  brig  of  fourteen  guns  off  the  coast  of  Maine.  The  captor  was 
the  United  States  brig  "Enterprise,"  a  lucky  little  vessel  belonging  to  a 
very  unlucky  class ;  for  her  sister  brigs  all  fell  a  prey  to  the  enemy. 
The  "  Nautilus,"  it  will  be  remembered,  was  captured  early  in  the  war.  The 
"Vixen"  fell  into  the  hands  of  Sir  James  Yeo,  who  was  cruising  in  the 
West  Indies,  in  the  frigate  "  Southampton  ; "  but  this  gallant  ofificer  reaped 
but  little  benefit  from  his  prize,  for  frigate  and  brig  alike  were  soon 
after  wrecked  on  one  of  the  Bahama  Islands.  The  "  Siren,"  late  in  the 
war,  was  captured  by  the  seventy-four-gun  ship  "Medway,"  and  the  loss  of 
the  "Argus"  has  just  been  chronicled.  Of  all  these  brigs,  the  "Argus" 
alone  was  able  to  fire  a  gun  in  her  own  defence,  before  being  cap- 
tured ;  the  rest  were  all  forced  to  yield  quietly  to  immensely  superior 
force. 

In  the  war  with  Tripoli,  the  "  Enterprise  "  won  the  reputation  of  being 


blue-jackf:ts  of  1812. 


391 


a  "lucky"  craft;  and  her  daring  adventures  and  thrilling  escapes  during 
the  short  naval  war  with  France  added  to  her  prestige  among  sailors. 
When  the  war  with  England  broke  out,  the  little  brig  was  put  in  com- 
mission as  soon  as  possible,  and  assigned  to  duty  along  the  coast  of  Maine. 
She  did  good  service  in  keeping  off  privateers  and  marauding  expeditions 
from  Nova  Scotia.  In  the  early  part  of  September,  1813,  she  was  cruising 
near  Penguin  Point,  when  she  sighted  a  brig  in  shore  that  had  the  appear- 
ance of  a  hostile  war-vessel.  The  stranger  soon  settled  all  doubts  as 
to  her  character  by  firing  several  guns,  seemingly  for  the  purpose  of 
recalling  her  boats  from  the  shore.  Then,  setting  sail  witn  the  rapidity 
of  a  man-of-war,  she  bore  down  upon  the  American  vessel.  The  "  Enter- 
prise," instead  of  waiting  for  the  enemy,  turned  out  to  sea,  under  easy 
sail ;  and  her  crew  were  set  to  work  bringing  aft  a  long  gun,  and  mount- 
ing it  in  the  cabin,  where  one  of  the  stern  windows  had  been  chopped 
away  to  make  a  port.  This  action  rather  alarmed  the  sailors,  who  feared 
that  their  commander,  Lieut.  Burrows,  whose  character  was  unknown  to 
them,  intended  to  avoid  the  enemy,  and  was  rigging  the  long  gun  for  a 
stern-chaser.  An  impromptu  meeting  was  held  upon  the  forecastle  ;  and, 
after  much  whispered  consultation,  the  people  appointed  a  committee  to 
go  aft  and  tell  the  commander  that  the  lads  were  burning  to  engage  the 
enemy,  and  were  confident  of  whipping  her.  The  committee  started 
bravely  to  discharge  their  commission ;  but  their  courage  failed  them 
before  so  mighty  a  potentate  as  the  commander,  and  they  whispered 
their  message  to  the  first  lieutenant,  who  laughed,  and  sent  word  forward 
that  Mr.  Burrows  only  wanted  to  get  sea-room,  and  would  soon  give  the 
jackies  all  the  fighting  they  desired. 

The  Americans  now  had  leisure  to  examine,  through  their  marine- 
glasses,  the  vessel  which  was  so  boldly  following  them  to  the  place  of  battle. 
She  was  a  man-of-war  brig,  flying  the  British  ensign  from  both  mastheads 
and  at  the  peak.  Her  armament  consisted  of  twelve  eighteen-pound  car- 
ronades  and  two  long  sixes,  as  against  the  fourteen  eighteen-pound 
carronades  and  two  long  nines  of  the  "Enterprise."  The  Englishman 
carried  a  crew  of  sixty-six  men,  while  the  quarter-rolls  of   the  American 


ii 


292 


blue:-jackp:ts  of  1812. 


1 

1 
!  I 

:    ,  1 

i 

i 

showed  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  two.  But  in  the  battle  which  followed 
the  British  fought  with  such  desperate  bravery  as  to  almost  overcome  the 
odds  against  them. 


For  some  time  the  two  vessels 
fought  shy  of  each  other,  manoeuvring 
for  a  windward  position.  Towards 
three   o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the 


y 


A--^^^ 


THE   FIGHT  WITH  THE  "BOXER." 


Americans  gained  this  advantage,  and  at  once  shortened  sail,  arid  edged 
down  toward  the  enemy.     As  the  ships  drew  near,  a  sailor  was  seen  to  climb 


iiwp»«iBii^iifjrni<iOTi«T^.?«ii 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


293 


into  the  rigging  of  the  Englishman,  and  nail  the  colors  to  the  mast,  giving 
the  lads  of  the  "Enterprise"  a  hint  as  to  the  character  of  the  reception 
they  might  expect.  As  the  vessels  came  within  range,  both  crews  cheered 
lustily,  and  continued  cheering  until  within  pistol-shot,  when  the  two 
broadsides  were  let  fly  at  almost  exactly  the  same  moment.  With  the 
first  fire,  both  commanders  fell.  Capt.  Klyth  of  the  English  vessel  was 
almost  cut  in  two  by  a  round  shot  as  he  stood  on  his  quarter-deck. 
He  died  instantly.  Lieut.  Burrows  was  struck  by  a  canister-shot,  which 
inflicted  a  mortal  wound.  He  refused  to  be  carried  below,  and  was  ten- 
derly laid  upon  the  deck,  where  he  remained  during  the  remainder  of  the 
battle,  cheering  on  his  men,  and  crying  out  that  the  colors  of  the  "  ICnter- 
prise "  should  never  be  struck.  The  conflict  was  sharp,  but  short.  For 
ten  minutes  only  the  answering  broadsides  rung  out ;  then  the  colors  of 
the  British  ship  were  hauled  down.  She  proved  to  be  the  sloop-of-war 
"  Boxer,"  and  had  suffered  severely  from  the  broadsides  of  the  "  Enter- 
prise." Several  shots  had  taken  effect  in  her  hull,  her  fore-mast  was 
almost  shot  away,  and  several  guns  were  dismounted.  Three  men  beside 
her  captain  were  killed,  and  seventeen  wounded.  But  she  had  not  suffered 
these  injuries  without  inflicting  some  in  return.  The  "Enterprise"  was 
much  cut  up  aloft.  Her  fore-mast  and  main-mast  had  each  been  pierced 
by  an  eighteen-pound  ball.  Her  captain  lay  upon  the  deck,  gasping  in 
the  last  agonies  of  death,  but  stoutly  protesting  that  he  would  not  be 
carried  below  until  he  received  the  sword  of  the  commander  of  the 
"Boxer."  At  last  this  was  brought  him;  and  grasping  it  he  cried,  "Now 
I  am  satisfied.     I  die  contented." 

The  two  shattered  brigs  were  taken  into  Portland,  where  the  bodies 
of  the  two  slain  commanders  were  buried  with  all  the  honors  of  war.  The 
"  Enterprise  "  was  repaired,  and  made  one  more  cruise  before  the  close  of 
the  war;  but  the  "Boxer"  was  found  to  be  forever  ruined  for  a  vessel 
of  war,  and  she  was  sold  into  the  merchant-service.  The  fact  that  she 
was  so  greatly  injured  in  so  short  a  time  led  a  London  paper,  in  speaking 
of  the  battle,  to  say,  "The  fact  seems  to  be  but  too  clearly  established, 
that  the  Americans   have  some  superior  mode  of  firing ;   and  we  cannot 


=  '! 


\  I 


i:r : 


294 


ULUE-JACKKTS  OF    1812. 


be  too   anxiously   employed   in    discovering    to   what    circumstances    that 
superiority  is  owing." 

This  battle  practically  closed  the  year's  naval  events  upon  the  ocean. 


t-  ^  /-A 


THE  SURRENDER  OF  THE  "  BOXER." 


The  British  privateer  "  Dart "  was  captured  near  Newport  by  some  volun- 
teers from  the  gunbo.its  stationed  at  that  point.  But,  with  this  exception, 
nothing  noteworthy  in  naval  circles  occurred  during  the  remainder  of  the 
year.     Looking  back  over  the  annals  of  the  naval  operations  of    18 13,  it 


sMMm 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


!95 


is  clear  that  the  Americans  were  the  chief  sufferers.  They  had  the  vic- 
tories over  the  "Peacock,"  "lioxer,"  and  "Highflyer"  to  boast  of;  but 
they  had  lost  the  "Chesapeake,"  "Argus,"  and  "Viper."  Ihit,  more  than 
this,  they  had  suffered  their  coast  to  be  so  scaled  up  by  British  blockaders 
that  many  of  their  best  vessels  were  left  to  lie  idle  at  their  docks.  The 
blockade,  too,  was  growing  stricter  daily,  and  the  outlook  for  the  future 
seemed  gloomy;  yet,  as  it .  turned  out,  in  1814  the  Americans  regained 
the  ground  they  had  lost  the  year  before. 


'I 


't  s  <  t     '\ 


mmaam 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


ON  THE  LAKF.S.-CLOSE  OF  HOSTILITIES  ON  LAKES  ERIE  AND  HURON.  —  DESULTORY 
WARFARE  ON  LAKE  ONTARIO  IN  1813. —  HOSTILITIES  ON  ONTARIO  IN  1S14.-THE 
BATTLE   OF  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.— END  OF  THE  WAR  UPON  THE  LAKES. 


N  considering  the  naval  operations  on  the  Great  Lakes,  it  must 
be  i<ept  in  mind,  that  winter,  which  checked  but  little  naval 
activity  on  the  ocean,  locked  the  great  fresh-water  seas  in  an 
impenetrable  barrier  of  ice,  and  effectually  stopped  all  further 
hostilities  between  the  hostile  forces  afloat.  The  victory  gained  by  Com- 
modore Perry  on  Lake  Erie  in  September,  1813,  gave  the  Americans 
complete  command  of  that  lake  ;  and  the  frozen  season  soon  coming  on, 
prevented  any  attempts  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  to  contest  the  American 
supremacy.  But,  indeed,  the  British  showed  little  ability,  throughout  the 
subsequent  course  of  the  war,  to  snatch  from  the  Americans  the  fruits 
of  the  victory  at  Put-in-Bay.  They  embarked  upon  no  more  offensive 
expeditions ;  and  the  only  notable  naval  contest  between  the  two  belliger- 
ents during  the  remainder  of  the  war  occurred  Aug.  12,  1 8 14,  when  a 
party  of   seventy-five    British    seamen    and    marines   attempted   to  cut  out 

three  American  schooners  that  lay  at  the  foot  of  the  lake  near  Fort  Erie. 

296 


i!   ,i 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1S12. 


297 


/ 


The  British  forces  were  at  Queenstown,  on  the  Niagara  River ;  but  by 
dint  of  carrying  their  boats  twenty  miles  through  the  woods,  then  poUng 
down  a  narrow  and  shallow  stream,  with  a  second  portage  of  eight  miles, 
the   adventurers   managed   to   reach    Lake    Erie.     Embarking   here,   they 


]■  !i 


it 


()\   THK  WAY  TO    LAKE   KRIE. 


:      i 


pulled  down  to  the  schooners.  To  the  hail  of  the  lookout,  they  responded, 
"Provision  boats."  And,  as  no  British  were  thought  to  be  on  Lake  Erie, 
the  response  satisfic  1  the  officer  of  the  watch.  He  quickly  discovered 
his  mistake,  however,  when  he  saw  his  cable  cut,  and  a  party  of  armed 
men  scrambling  over  his  bulwarks.  This  first  prize,  the  "Somers,"  was 
quickly  in  the  hands  of  the  British,  and  was  soon  joined  in  captivity  by 


T 


298 


'1 

I 

ii 

jt; 

1    ■ 

Ii:      ■ 

'; 

11. 

^1 

j!  1 

t 

r'  ' 
(     ■ 

BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


the  "Ohio,"  whose  people  fought  bravely  but  unavailingly  against  the 
unexpected  foe.  While  the  fighting  was  going  on  aboard  the  vessels, 
they  were  drifting  down  the  stream ;  and,  by  the  time  the  British  victory 
was  complete,  both  vessels  were  beyond  the  range  of  Fort  Erie's  guns, 
and  safe  from  recapture.  This  successful  enterprise  certainly  deserves  a 
place  as  the  boldest  and  best  executed  cutting-out  expedition  of  the  war. 

Long  before  this  occurrence,  Capt.  Arthur  Singleton,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded to  Perry's  command,  despairing  of  any  active  service  on  Lake 
Erie,  had  taken  his  squadron  of  five  vessels  into  Lake  Huron,  where  the 
British  still  held  the  supremacy.  His  objective  point  was  the  Island  of 
Michilimackinac  (Mackinaw),  which  had  been  captured  by  the  enemy 
early  in  the  war.  On  his  way,  he  stopped  and  burned  the  British  fort 
and  barracks  of  St.  Joseph.  At  Mackinaw  he  was  repulsed,  with  the 
loss  of  seventy  men  ;  after  which  he  returned  to  Lake  Erie,  leaving  two 
vessels,  the  "Scorpion"  and  "Tigress,"  to  blockade  the  Nattagawassa 
River.  The  presence  of  these  vessels  irritated  the  British,  and  they  at 
once  set  about  preparations  for  their  capture.  On  the  night  of  the  3d 
of  September  the  "Tigress"  was  captured  after  a  sharp  struggle,  which, 
as  the  British  commanding  officer  said,  "did  credit  to  her  officers,  who 
were  all  severely  wounded."  At  the  time  of  the  attack,  the  "  Scorpion  " 
was  several  miles  away,  and  knew  nothing  of  the  misfortune  of  her  con- 
sort. Knowing  this,  the  British  sent  their  prisoners  ashore,  and,  hoisting 
the  American  flag  over  the  captured  vessel,  waited  patiently  for  their 
game  to  come  to  ihem.  They  were  not  disappointed  in  their  expecta- 
tions. On  the  5th  the  "  Scorpion "  came  up,  and  anchored,  unsuspect- 
ingly, within  two  miles  of  her  consort.  At  early  dawn  the  next  morning 
the  "  Tigress  "  weighed  anchor ;  and,  with  the  stars  and  stripes  still  flying, 
dropped  down  alongside  the  unsuspecting  schooner,  poured  in  a  sudden 
volley,  and,  instantly  boarding,  carried  the  vessel  without  meeting  any 
resistance. 

With  these  two  skirmishes,  the  war  upon  Lake  Erie  and  Lake  Huron 
was  ended.  But  on  Lake  Ontario  the  naval  events,  though  in  no  case 
comparable  with  Perry's  famous  victory,  were  numerous  and  noteworthy. 


It 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1S12. 


igg 


In  our  previous  discussion  of  the  progress  of  the  war  upon  Lake 
Ontario,  we  left  Commodore  C  launcey  in  winter  quarter  at  Sackett's 
Harbor,  building  new  ships,  and  making  vigorous  efforts  to  secure  sailors 
to  man  them.  His  energy  met  with  its  reward ;  for,  when  the  melting 
ice  left  the  lake  open  for  navigation  in  the  spring  of  1813,  the  American 
fleet  was  ready  for  active  service,  vhile  the  best  vessels  belonging  to  the 
British  were  still  in  the  hands  of  the  carpenters  and  riggers.  The  first 
service  performed  by  the  American  fleet  was  aiding  Gen.  Pike  in  his 
attack  upon  York,  where  the  Americans  burned  an  almost  completed 
twenty-four-gun  ship,  and  captured  the  ten-gun  brig  "Gloucester."  The 
land  forces  who  took  part  in  this  action  were  terribly  injured  by  the 
explosion  of  the  powder-magazine,  to  which  the  British  had  applied  a 
slow-match  when  they  found  they  could  no  longer  hold  their  position. 
This  battle  was  fought  April  27,  181 3.  One  month  later,  the  naval  forces 
co-operated  with  the  soldiery  in  driving  the  British  from  Fort  George, 
on  the  Canada  side  of  the  Niagara  River,  near  Lake  Ontario.  Perry 
came  from  Lake  Erie  to  take  part  in  this  action,  and  led  a  landing  party 
under  the  fire  of  the  British  artillery  with  that  dashing  courage  which  he 
showed  later  at  the  battle  of  Put-in-Bay.  The  work  of  the  sailors  in  this 
action  was  cool  and  effective.  Their  fire  covered  the  advance  of  the 
troops,  and  silenced  more  than  one  of  the  enemy's  guns.  "  The  American 
ships,"  writes  a  British  historian,  "with  their  heavy  discharges  of  round 
and  grape,  too  well  succeeded  in  thinning  the  British  ranks." 

But  by  this  time  the  British  fleet  was  ready  for  sea,  and  left  Kingston 
on  the  27th  of  May ;  while  Chauncey  was  still  at  the  extreme  western 
end  of  the  lake.  The  enemy  determined  to  make  an  immediate  assault 
upon  Sackett's  Harbor,  and  there  destroy  the  corvette  "  Gen.  Pike,"  which, 
if  completed,  would  give  Chauncey  supremacy  upon  the  lake.  Accorrl- 
ingly  the  fleet  under  Sir  James  Lucas  Yeo,  with  a  large  body  of  troops 
under  Sir  George  Prescott,  appeared  before  the  harbor  •  on  the  2gth. 
Although  the  forces  which  raH'cd  to  the  defence  of  the  village  were 
chiefly  raw  militia,  the  British  attack  was  conducted  with  so  little  spirit 
that  the  defenders  won  the  day ;  and  the  enemy  retreated,  lee;ving  most 


;[  ill 


Mi 


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It  ■  i 

11  : 

300 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    181 2. 


of  his  wounded  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  Yeo  then 
returned  to  Kingston  ;  and  the  American  fleet  came  up  the  lake,  and 
put  into  Sackett's  Harbor,  there  to  remain  until  the  completion  of  the 
"  Pike  "  should  give  Chauncey  control  of  the  lake.  While  the  Americans 
thus  remained  in  port,  the  British  squadron  made  brief  incursions  into 
the  lake,  capturing  a  few  schooners  and  breaking  up  one  or  two  encamp- 
ments of  the  land  forces  of  the  United  States. 

Not  until  the  21st  of  July  did  the  Americans  leave  their  anchorage. 
On  that  day,  with  the  formidable  corvette  "  Pike "  at  the  head  of  the 
line,  Chauncey  left  Sackett  3  Harbor,  and  went  up  to  Niagara.  Some  days 
later,  Yeo  took  his  squadron  to  sea  ;  and  on  the  7th  of  August  the  two 
hostile  fleets  came  in  sight  of  one  another  for  the  first  time.  Then 
followed  a  season  of  manoeuvring, — of  challenging  and  counter-challenging, 
of  offering  battle  and  of  avoiding  it,  —  terminating  in  so  inconclusive  an 
engagement  that  one  is  forced  to  believe  that  neither  commander  dared 
to  enter  the  battle  for  which  both  had  been  so  long  preparing.  The 
American  squadron  consisted  largely  of  schooners  armed  with  long  guns. 
In  smooth  weather  these  craft  were  valuable  adjuncts  to  the  larger  vessels, 
while  in  rough  weather  they  were  useless.  Yeo's  squadron  was  mostly 
square-rigged,  and  was  therefore  equally  serviceable  in  all  kinds  of  weather. 
It  seems  likely,  therefore,  that  the  Americans  strove  to  bring  on  the 
conflict  in  smooth  weather ;  while  the  British  were  determined  to  wait 
until  a  heavy  sea  should  lessen  the  force  of  their  foes.  In  this  dilemma 
several  days  passed  away. 

On  the  night  of  the  7th  of  August  the  wind  came  up  to  blow,  and 
the  rising  waves  soon  demonstrated  the  uselessness  of  schooners  for  pur- 
poses of  war.  At  early  dawn  a  fierce  gust  of  wind  caused  the  schooners 
"  Hamilton  "  and  "  Scourge  "  to  careen  far  to  leewa,rd.  Their  heavy  guns 
broke  loose ;  then,  crashing  down  to  the  submerged  beams  of  th'e  schooners, 
pulled  them  still  farther  over ;  and,  the  water  rushing  in  at  their  hatches, 
they  foundered,  carrying  with  them  to  the  bottom  all  their  officers,  and 
all  but  sixteen  of  the  men.  This  loss  reduced  Chauncey's  force  to  more 
of  an   equality   with   that  of  the   British ;  yet   for  two   days  longer  the 


i  4. 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


301 


manoeuvring  continued,  without  a  shot  being  fired.  On  the  night  of 
the  loth  the  two  squadrons  formed  in  order  of  battle,  and  rapidly  ap- 
proached each  other.  At  eleven  o'clock  a  cannonade  was  begun  by  both 
parties,  and  continued  for  about  an  hour ;  though  the  shot  did  little 
material  damage  on  either  side.  At  midnight  the  British,  by  a  quick- 
movement,  cut  out  and  captured  two  American  schooners,  and  sailed 
away,  without  suffering  any  damage. 

A  month  then  intervened  before  the  next  hostile  meeting.  In  his 
despatches  to  his  superior  authorities,  each  commander  stoutly  affirms  that 
he  spent  the  time  in  chasing  the  enemy,  who  refused  to  give  him  battle. 
Whether  it  was  the  British  or  the  Americans  that  avoided  the  battle,  it 
is  impossible  to  decide ;  but  it  seems  reasonable  to  believe,  that,  had 
either  party  been  really  determined  upon  bringing  matters  to  an  •  issue, 
the  other  could  have  been  forced  into  giving  battle. 

On  the  nth  of  September,  the  enemies  met  near  ti.j  mouth  of  the 
Genesee  River,  and  exchanged  broadsides.  A  few  of  the  British  vessels 
were  hulled,  and,  without  more  ado,  hauled  off  into  the  shallow  waters  of 
Ambert  Bay,  whither  the  Americans  could  not  follow  them.  Then  ensued 
another  long  period  of  peace,  broken  at  last  by  a  naval  action  in  York 
Bay,  on  the  28th,  in  which  the  British  were  worsted  and  obliged  to  fly, 
though  none  of  their  ships  were  destroyed  or  captured.  On  Oct.  2, 
Chauncey  accomplished  a  really  important  work,  by  capturing  five  British 
transports,  with  two  hundred  and  sixty-four  men,  seven  naval  and  ten 
army  officers.  With  this  achievement,  the  active  work  of  the  Ontario 
squadron  ended  for  the  year,  as  Chauncey  remained  blockading  Yeo  at 
Kingston,  u*7lil  the  approach  of  winter  rendered  that  precaution  no  longer 
necessary. 

The  navigable  season  of  18 14  opened  with  the  British  first  upon  the 
lake.  The  long  winter  had  been  employed  by  the  belligerents  in  adding 
to  their  fleets ;  a  work  completed  first  by  Yeo,  who  put  out  upon  the  lake 
on  the  3d  of  May,  with  eight  square-rigged  vessels,  of  which  two  were 
new  frigates.  The  Americans  had  given  up  their  unseaworthy  schooners, 
and  had  a  fleet  of  eight  square-rigged  vessels  nearly  ready,  but  still  lacking 


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302 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


the  cordage  and  guns  for  the  three  new  craft.  Yeo  thus  had  the  lake 
to  himself  for  a  time,  and  began  a  vigorous  campaign  by  an  attack  upon 
Oswego,  aided  by  a  large  body  of  British  troops.  Succeeding  in  this  enter- 
prise, he  set  sail  for  Sackctt's  Harbor,  and,  taking  up  his  position  just 
outside  the  bar,  disposed  his  vessels  for  a  long  and  strict  blockade.  This 
action  was  particularly  troublesome  to  the  Americans  at  that  time ;  for 
their  new  frigates  were  just  ready  for  their  guns  and  cables,  which  could 
not  be  brought  overland,  and  the  arrival  of  which  by  water  was  seemingly 
prevented  by  the  blockade.  It  was  in  this  emergency  that  the  plan, 
already  described,  for  transporting  the  great  cable  for  the  "Niagara" 
overland,  on  the  backs  of  men,  was  decided  upon.  Yeo  remained  on  guard 
at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor  until  the  6th  of  June,  then  raised  the  blockade, 
and  disappeared  down  the  lake.  For  six  weeks  the  Americans  continued 
working  on  their  fleet,  to  get  the  ships  ready  for  service.  During  this 
time  the  British  gunboat  "  Black  Snake "  was  brought  into  the  harbor,  a 
prize  to  Lieut.  Gregory,  who  had  captured  it  by  a  sudden  assault,  with 
a  score  of  sailors  at  his  back.  On  the  ist  of  July,  the  same  officer 
made  a  sudden  descent  upon  Presque  Isle,  where  he  found  a  British  vessel 
pierced  for  fourteen  guns  on  the  stocks,  ready  for  launching.  The  raiders 
hastily  set  fire  to  the  ship,  and  retreated  before  the  enemy  could  get  his 
forces  together. 

It  was  July  31  before  Chauncey  set  sail  from  Sackett's  Harbor.  He 
now  had  under  his  command  a  squadron  of  eight  vessels,  two  of  which 
were  frigates,  two  ship  sloops-of-war,  and  eight  brig-sloops  of  no  mean 
power.  Yeo  had,  to  oppose  this  force,  a  fleet  of  no  less  respectable  propor- 
tions. Yet,  for  the  remainder  of  the  year,  these  two  squadrons  cruised 
about  the  lake,  or  blockaded  each  other  in  turn,  without  once  coming  to 
battle.  As  transports,  the  vessels  were  of  some  service  to  their  respec- 
tive governments ;  but,  so  far  as  any  actual  naval  operations  were  con- 
cerned, they  might  as  well  never  have  been  built.  The  war  closed, 
leaving  the  two  cautious  commanders  still  waiting  for  a  satisfactory  occasion 
for  giving  battle. 

Such  was  the  course  of  the  naval  war  upon  the  Great  Lakes ;  but  the 


•ialk^- 


LJlJittlWlWtfi^ttygmaHpgfc^E^-f'-'/'r  -i'  L.- 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


303 


thunder  of  hostile  cannon  and  the  cheers  of  sailors  were  heard  upon  yet 
another  sheet  of  fresh  water,  before  the  quarrel  between  England  and  the 
United  States  was  settled.  In  the  north-east  corner  of  New  York  State, 
and  slightly  overlapping  the  Canada  line,  lies  Lake  Champlain, — a  pictur- 
esque sheet  of  water,  narrow,  and  dotted  with  wooded  islands.  From  the 
northern  end  of  the  lake  flows  the  Richelieu  River,  which  follows  a 
straight  course  through  Canada  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  into  which  it  emp- 
ties. The  long,  navigable  water-way  thus  open  from  Canada  to  the  very 
heart  of  New  York  was  to  the  British  a  most  tempting  path  for  an 
invading  expedition.  By  the  shore  of  the  lake  a  road  wound  along ;  thus 
smoothing  the  way  for  a  land  force,  whose  advance  might  be  protected 
by  the  fire  of  the  naval  force  that  should  proceed  up  the  lake.  Naturally, 
so  admirable  an  international  highway  early  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
military  authorities  of  both  belligerents ;  and,  while  the  British  pressed 
forward  their  preparations  for  an  invading  expedition,  the  Americans 
hastened  to  make  such  arrangements  as  should  give  them  control  of  the 
lake.  Her  European  wars,  however,  made  so  great  a  demand  for  soldiers 
upon  Great  Britain,  that  not  until  18 14  could  she  send  to  America  a 
sufficient  force  to  undertake  the  invasion  of  the  United  States  from  the 
north.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  a  force  of  from  ten  thousand  to  fifteen 
thousand  troops,  including  several  thousand  veterans  who  had  served  under 
Wellington,  were  massed  at  Montreal ;  and  in  May  a  move  was  made  by 
the  British  to  get  control  of  the  lake,  before  sending  their  invading  forces 
into  New  York.  The  British  naval  force  already  in  the  Richelieu  River, 
and  available  for  service,  consisted  of  a  brig,  two  sloops,  and  twelve  or 
fourteen  gunboats.  The  American  flotilla  included  a  large  corvette,  a 
schooner,  a  small  sloop,  and  ten  gunboats,  or  galleys,  propelled  with  oars. 
Seeing  that  the  British  were  preparing  for  active  hostilities,  the  Ameri- 
cans began  to  build,  with  all  possible  speed,  a  large  brig ;  a  move  which 
the  enemy  promptly  met  by  pushing  forward  with  equal  energy  the  con- 
struction of  a  frigate.  While  the  new  vessels  were  on  the  stocks,  an 
irregular  warfare  was  carried  on  by  those  already  in  commission.  At 
the  opening  of  the  season,  the  American  vessels  lay  in  Otter  Creek ;  and, 


iff 

III" 

'i 


lllii 


'I  i 


304 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


just  as  they  were  ready  to  leave  port,  the  enemy  appeared  off  the  mouth 
of  the  creek  with  a  force  consisting  of  the  brig  "  Linnet "  and  eight  or 
ten  galleys.  The  object  of  the  British  was  to  so  obstruct  the  mouth  of 
the  creek  that  the  Americans  should  be  unable  to  come  out.  With  this 
end  in  view,  they  had  brought  two  sloops  laden  with  stones,  which  they 
intended  to  sink  in  the  narrow  channel.  But,  luckily,  the  Americans  had 
thrown  up  earthworks  at  the  mouth  of  the  river ;  and  a  party  of  sailors 
so  worked  the  guns,  that,  after  much  manoeuvring,  the  British  were 
forced  to  retire  without  effecting  their  purpose. 

About  the  middle  of  August,  the  Americans  launched  their  new  brig, 
the  "Eagle;"  and  the  little  squadron  put  out  at  once  into  the  lake,  under 
command  of  Capt.  Thomas  Macdonough.  Eight  days  later,  the  British 
got  their  new  ship,  the  "Confiance,"  into  the  water.  She  possessed  one 
feature  new  to  American  naval  architecture, — a  furnace  in  which  to 
heat  cannon-balls. 

By  this  time  (September,  18 14),  the  invading  column  of  British  vet- 
erans, eleven  thousand  strong,  had  begun  its  march  into  New  York  along 
the  west  shore  of  the  lake.  Two  thousand  Americans  only  could  be 
gathered  to  dispute  their  progress ;  and  these,  under  the  command  of 
Brigadier-Gen.  Macomb,  were  gathered  at  Plattsburg.  To  this  point, 
accordingly,  Macdonough  took  his  fleet,  and  awaited  the  coming  of  the 
enemy ;  knowing  that  if  he  could  beat  back  the  fleet  of  the  British,  their 
land  forces,  however  powerful,  would  be  forced  to  cease  their  advance. 
The  fleet  that  he  commanded  consisted  of  the  flag-ship  "  Saratoga,"  carry- 
ing eight  long  twenty-four-pounders,  six  forty-two-pound  and  twelve  thirty- 
two-pound  carronades ;  the  brig  "  Eagle,"  carrying  eight  long  eighteens, 
and  twelve  thirty-two-pound  carronades;  schooner  "Ticonderoga,"  with 
eight  long  twelve-pounders,  four  long  eighteen-pounders,  and  five  thirty- 
two-pound  carronades ;  sloop  "  Preble,'"  with  seven  long  nines ;  and  ten 
galleys.  The  commander  who  ruled  over  this  fleet  was  a  man  still  in  his 
twenty-ninth  year.  The  successful  battles  of  the  War  of  1812  were  fought 
by  young  officers,  and  the  battle  of  Lake  Champlain  was  no  exception  to 
the  rule. 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


305 


The  British  force  which  came  into  battle  with  Maoc'nnoiigh's  fleet  was 
slightly  superior.  It  was  headed  by  the  flag-ship  "  Confiance,"  a  frigate 
of  the  class  of  the  United  States  ship  "  Constitution,"  carrying  thirty 
long  twenty-fours,  a  long  twenty-four-poundcr  on  a  pivot,  and  six  thirty- 
two  or  forty-two  pound  carronades.  The  other  vessels  were  the  "  Linnet," 
a  brig  mounting  sixteen  long  twelves ;  and  the  "  Chubb  "  and  "  Finch  "  (cap- 
tured from  the  Americans  under  the  names  of  "Growler"  and  "  Eagle"), — 
sloops  carrying  respectively  ten  eighteen-pound  carronades  and  one  long 
six ;  and  six  eighteen-pound  carronades,  four  long  sixes,  and  one  short 
eighteen.  To  these  were  added  twelve  gunboats,  with  varied  armaments, 
but  each  slightly  heavier  than  the  American  craft  of  the  same  class. 

The  nth  of  September  had  been  chosen  by  the  British  for  the  com- 
bined land  and  water  attack  upon  Plattsburg.  With  the  movements  of 
the  land  forces,  this  narrative  will  not  deal.  The  brunt  of  the  conflict 
fell  upon  the  naval  forces,  and  it  was  the  success  of  the  Americans  upon 
the  water  that  turned  the  faces  of  the  British  invaders  toward  Canada. 

The  village  of  Plattsburg  stands  upon  the  shore  of  a  broad  bay  which 
communicates  with  Lake  Champlain  by  an  opening  a  mile  and  a  half 
wide,  bounded  upon  the  north  by  Cumberland  Head,  and  on  the  south 
by  Crab  Island.  In  this  bay,  about  two  miles  "rom  the  western  shore, 
Macdonough's  fleet  lay  anchored  in  double  line,  stretching  north  and 
south.  The  four  large  vessels  were  in  the  front  rank,  prepared  to  meet 
the  brunt  of  the  conflict ;  while  the  galleys  formed  a  second  line  in  the 
rear.  The  morning  of  the  day  of  battle  dawned  clear,  with  a  brisk  north- 
east wind  blowing.  The  British  were  stirring  early,  and  at  daybreak 
weighed  anchor  and  came  down  the  lake.  Across  the  low-lying  isthmus 
that  connected  Cumberland  Head  with  the  mainland,  the  Americans 
could  see  their  adversaries'  top-masts  as  they  came  down  to  do  battle. 
At  this  sight,  Macdonough  called  his  officers  about  him,  and,  kneeling 
upon  the  quarter-deck,  besought  Divine  aid  in  the  conflict  so  soon  to 
come.  When  the  little  group  rose  from  their  knees,  the  leading  ship  of 
the  enemy  was  seen  swinging  round  Cumberland  Head ;  and  the  men 
went  to  their  quarters  to  await  the  fiery  trial  that  all  knew  was  impending. 


Ill 
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blue-jacki:ts  of  1812. 


The  position  of  the  American  squadron  was  such  that  the  British 
were  forced  to  attack  "bows  on,"  thus  exposing  themselves  to  a  raking 
fire.  By  means  of  springs  on  their  cables,  the  Americans  were  enabled 
to  keep  their  broadsides  to  the  enemy,  and  thus  improve,  to  the  fullest, 
the  advantage  gained  by  their  position.  The  British  came  on  gallantly, 
and  were  greeted  by  four  shots  from  the  long  eighteens  of  the  "  Eagle," 
that  had  no  effect.  But,  at  the  sound  of  the  cannon,  a  young  game-cock 
that  was  running  at  large  on  the  "  Saratoga "  flew  upon  a  gun,  flapped 
his  wings,  and  crowed  thrice,  with  so  lusty  a  note  that  he  was  heard  far 
over  the  waters.  The  American  seamen,  thus  roused  from  the  painful 
revery  into  which  the  bravest  fall  before  going  into  action,  cheered 
lustily,  and  went  into  the  fight,  encouraged  as  only  sailors  could  be  by 
the  favorable  omen. 

Soon  after  the  defiant  game-cock  had  thus  cast  down  the  gage  of 
battle,  Macdonough  sighted  and  fired  the  first  shot  from  one  of  the  long 
twenty-four  pounders  of  the  "Saratoga."  The  heavy  ball  crashed  into 
the  bow  of  the  "  Confiancc,"  and  cut  its  way  aft,  killing  and  wounding 
several  men,  and  demolishing  the  wheel.  Nothing  daunted,  the  British 
flag-ship  came  on  grandly,  making  no  reply,  and  seeking  only  to  cast 
anchor  alongside  the  "  Saratoga,"  and  fight  it  out  yard-arm  to  yard-arm. 
But  the  fire  of  the  Americans  was  such  that  she  could  not  choose  her 
distance ;  but  after  having  been  badly  cut  up,  with  both  her  port  anchors 
shot  away,  was  forced  to  anchor  at  a  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  But 
her  anchor  had  hardly  touched  bottom,  when  she  suddenly  flashed  out  a 
sheet  of  flames,  as  her  rapid  broadsides  rung  out  and  her  red-hot  shot 
sped  over  the  water  toward  the  American  flag-ship.  Her  first  broadside 
killed  or  wounded  forty  of  the  Americans ;  while  many  more  were 
knocked  down  by  the  shock,  but  sustained  no  further  injury.  So  great 
was  the  carnage,  that  the  hatches  were  opened,  and  the  dead  bodies 
passed  below,  that  the  men  might  have  room  to  work  the  guns.  Among 
the  slain  was  Mr.  Gamble,  the  first  lieutenant,  who  was  on  his  knees 
sighting  a  gun,  when  a  shot  entered  the  port,  split  the  quoin,  drove  a 
great  piece  of  metal  against  his  breast,  and  stretched  him  dead  upon  the 


IJLUIi-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


307 


deck  without  breaking  his  skin.  l?y  a  singular  coincidence,  fifteen  min- 
utes later  a  shot  from  one  of  the  "  Saratoga's "  guns  struck  the  muzzle 
of  a  twenty-four  on  the  "  Confiance,"  and,  dismounting  it,  hurled  it 
against  Capt.  Downie's  groin,  killing  him  instantly  without  breaking  the 
skin  ;  a  black  mark  about  the  size  of  a  small  plate  was  the  sole  visible 
injury. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  smaller  vessels  had  become  engaged,  and  were 
fighting  with  no  less  courage  than  the  flag-ships.  The  "Chubb"  had 
early  been  disabled  by  a  broadside  from  the  "  Eagle,"  and  drifted  help- 
lessly under  the  guns  of  the  "Saratoga."  After  receiving  a  shot  from 
that  vessel,  she  struck,  and  was  taken  possession  of  by  Midshipman 
Piatt,  who  put  off  from  the  flag-ship  in  an  open  boat,  boarded  the  prize, 
and  took  her  into  Plattsburg  Bay,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Saranac.  More 
than  half  her  people  were  killed  or  wounded  during  the  short  time  she 
was  in  the  battle.  The  "  Linnet,"  in  the  mean  time,  had  engaged  the 
"  Eagle,"  and  poured  in  her  broadsides  with  such  effect  that  the  springs 
on  the  cables  of  the  American  were  cut  away,  and  she  could  no  longer 
bring  her  broadsides  to  bear.  Her  captain  therefore  cut  his  cables,  and 
soon  gained  a  position  from  which  he  could  bring  his  guns  to  bear  upon 
the  "  Confiance."  The  "  Linnet ''  thereupon  dashed  in  among  the  Ameri- 
can gunboats,  and,  driving  them  off,  commenced  a  raking  fire  upon  the 
"  Saratoga."  The  "  F"inch,"  meanwhile,  had  ranged  gallantly  up  along- 
side the  "  Ticonderoga,"  but  was  sent  out  of  the  fight  by  two  broadsides 
from  the  American.  She  drifted  helplessly  before  the  wind,  and  soon 
grounded  near  Crab  Island.  On  the  island  was  a  hospital,  and  an  aban- 
doned battery  mounting  one  si.x-pound  gun.  Some  of  the  convalescent 
patients,  seeing  the  enemy's  vessel  within  range,  opened  fire  upon  her 
from  the  battery,  and  soon  forced  her  to  haul  down  her  flag.  Nearly 
half  her  crew  were  killed  or  wounded.  Almost  at  the  same  moment,  the 
United  States  sloop  "  Preble  "  was  forced  out  of  the  fight  by  the  British 
gunboats,  that  pressed  so  fiercely  upon  her  that  she  cut  her  cables  and 
drifted  inshore. 

The  "Ticonderoga"  fought  a  gallant  fight  throughout.     After  ridding 


3o8 


blue-jackp:ts  of  1812. 


herself  of  the  "  Finch,"  she  had  a  number  of  the  British  gunboats  to 
contend  with ;  and  they  pressed  forward  to  the  attack  with  a  gallantry 
that  showed  them  to  be  conscious  of  the  fact,  that,  if  this  vessel  could 
be  carried,  the  American  line  would  be  turned,  and  the  day  won  by  the 
English.     But   the  American   schooner  fought   stubbornly.      Her  gallant 


HIRAM   PAULDING   FIRES  THE  GUNS. 

commander,  Lieut.  Cassin,  walked  up  and  down  the  taffrail,  heedless  of 
the  grape  and  musket-balls  that  whistled  past  his  head,  pointing  out 
to  the  gunners  the  spot  whereon  to  train  the  guns,  and  directing  them 
to  load  with  canister  and  bags  of  bullets  when  the  enemy  came  too 
near.  The  gunners  of  the  schooner  were  terribly  hampered  in  their 
work  by  the  lack  of  matches  for  the  guns  ;  for  the  vessel  was  new,  and  the 
absence  of  the.se  very  essential  articles  was  unnoticed  until  too  late.  The 
guns  of  one  division  were  fired  throughout  the  fight  by  Hiram  Paulding, 


j^as 


setmmrttmmte-  m  \mrt,0tm 


BLUK-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


309 


a  sixteen-year-old  midshipman,  who  flashed  his  pistol  at  the  priming  of  the 
guns  as  soon  as  aim  was  taken.  When  no  gun  was  ready  for  his  services, 
he  rammed  a  ball  into  his  weapon  and  discharged  it  at  the  enemy.  The 
onslaught  of  the  British  was  spirited  and  determined.  Often  they  pressed 
up  within  a  boat-hook's  length  of  the  schooner,  only  to  be  beaten  back  by 
her  merciless  fire.  Sometimes  so  few  were  left  alive  in  the  galleys  that 
they  could  hardly  man  the  oars  to  pull  out  of  the  fight.  In  this  way  the 
"  Ticonderoga  "  kept  her  enemies  at  bay  while  the  battle  was  being  decided 
between  the  "Saratoga"  and  the  "Confiancc." 

For  it  was  upon  the  issue  of  the  conflict  between  these  two  ships, 
that  victory  or  defeat  depended.  Each  had  her  ally  and  satellite.  Under 
the  stern  of  the  "Saratoga"  lay  the  "Linnet,"  pouring  in  raking  broad- 
sides. "The  "Confiance,"  in  turn,  was  suffering  from  the  well-directed 
fire  of  the  "  Eagle."  The  roar  of  the  artillery  was  unceasing,  and  dense 
clouds  of  gunpowder-smoke  hid  the  warring  ships  from  the  eyes  of  the 
eager  spectators  on  shore.  The  "  Confiance "  was  unfortunate  in  lohing 
^es  gallant  captain  early  in  the  action,  while  Macdonough  was  spared 
to  fight  his  ship  to  the  end.  His  gallantry  and  activity,  however,  leU 
him  to  expose  himself  fearlessly  ;  and  twice  he  narrowly  escaped  death. 
He  worked  like  a  common  sailor,  loading  and  firing  a  favorite  twenty- 
four-pound  gun ;  and  once,  while  on  his  knees,  sighting  the  piece,  a  shot 
from  the  "  Confiance  "  cut  in  two  the  spanker-boom,  a  great  piece  of  which 
fell  heavily  upon  the  captain's  head,  stretching  him  senseless  upon  the 
deck.  He  lay  motionless  for  two  or  three  minutes,  and  his  men  mourned 
him  as  dead ;  but  suddenly  his  activity  returned,  and  he  leaped  to  his 
feet,  and  was  soon  again  in  the  thick  of  the  fight.  In  less  than  five 
minutes  the  cry  again  arose,  that  the  captain  was  killed.  He  had  been 
standing  at  the  breach  of  his  favorite  cannon,  when  a  round  shot  took 
off  the  head  of  the  captain  of  the  gun,  and  dashed  it  with  terrific  force 
into  the  face  of  Macdonough,  who  was  driven  across  the  deck,  and  hurled 
against  the  bulwarks.  He  lay  an  instant,  covered  with  the  blood  of  the 
slain  man  ;  but,  hearing  his  men  cry  that  he  was  killed,  he  rushed  among 
them,  to  cheer  them  on  with  his  presence. 


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BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1S12. 


And,  indeed,  at  this  moment  the  crew  of  the  "Saratoga"  needed  the 
presence  of  their  captain  to  cheer  them  on  to  further  exertion.  The  red- 
hot  shot  of  the  "  Confiance "  had  twice  set  fire  to  the  American  ship. 
The  raking  fire  from  the  "  Linnet "  had  dismounted  carronades  and  long 
guns  one  by  one,  until  but  a  single  serviceable  gun  was  left  in  the  star- 
board battery.  A  too  heavy  charge  dismounted  this  piece,  and  threw  it 
down  the  hatchway,  leaving  the  frigate  without  a  single  gun  bearing  upon 
the  enemy.  In  such  a  plight  the  hearts  of  the  crew  might  well  fail  them. 
But  Macdonough  was  ready  for  the  emergency.  He  still  had  his  port 
broadside  untouched,  and  he  at  once  set  to  work  to  swing  the  ship  round 
so  that  this  battery  could  be  brought  to  bear.  An  anchor  was  let  fall 
astern,  and  the  whole  ship's  company  hauled  in  on  the  hawser,  swinging 
the  ship  slowly  around.  It  was  a  dangerous  manoeuvre;  for,  as  the  ship 
veered  round,  her  stern  was  presented  to  the  "  Linnet,"  affording  an 
opportunity  for  raking,  which  the  gunners  on  that  plucky  little  vessel 
immediately  improved.  But  patience  and  hard  pulling  carried  the  da)- ; 
and  gradually  the  heavy  frigate  was  turned  sufificiently  for  the  after  gun 
to  bear,  and  a  gun's  crew  was  at  once  called  from  the  hawsers  to  oper 
fire.  One  by  one  the  guns  swung  into  position,  and  soon  the  whole 
broadside  opened  with  a  roar. 

Meanwhile  the  "  Confiance  "  had  attempted  the  same  manoeuvre,  l^ut 
her  anchors  were  badly  placed  ;  and,  though  her  people  worked  gallantly, 
they  failed  to  get  the  ship  round.  She  bore  for  some  time  the  effective 
fire  from  the  "  Saratoga's "  fresh  broadside,  but,  finding  that  she  could 
in  no  way  return  the  fire,  struck  her  flag,  two  hours  and  a  quarter  after 
the  battle  commenced.  Beyond  giving  a  hasty  cheer,  the  people  of  the 
"Saratoga"  paid  little  attention  to  the  surrender  of  their  chief  enemy, 
but  instantly  turned  their  guns  upon  the  "Linnet."  In  this  combat  the 
"Eagle"  could  take  no  part,  and  the  thunder  of  her  guns  died  away. 
Farther  down  the  bay,  the  "  Ticonderoga "  had  just  driven  away  the  last 
of  the  British  galleys;  so  that  the  "Linnet ''  now  alone  upheld  the  cause  of 
the  enemy.  She  was  terribly  outmatched  by  her  heavier  foe,  but  her 
gallant  captain  Bring  kept  up  a  desperate  defence.     Her  masts  and  rigging 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


3" 


were  hopelessly  shattered  ;  and  no  course  was  open  to  her,  save  to  sur- 
render, or  fight  a  hopeless  fight.  Capt.  Pring  sent  off  a  lieutenant,  in  an 
open  boat,  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  the  "Confiance."  The  officer 
returned  with  the  report  that  Capt.  Downie  was  killed,  and  the  frigate 
terribly  cut  up;  and  as  by  this  time  the  water,  pouiing  in  the  shot-holes 
in  the  "  Linnet's "  hull,  had  risen  a  foot  above  the  lower  deck,  her  flag 
was  hauled  down,  and  the  battle  ended  in  a  decisive  triumph  for  the 
Americans. 

Terrible  was  the  carnage,  and  many  and  strange  the  incidents,  of  this 
most  stubbornly  contested  naval  battle.  All  of  the  prizes  were  in  a  sinking 
condition.  In  the  hull  of  the  "Confiance"  were  a  hundred  and  five  shot- 
holes,  while  the  "  Saratoga "  was  pierced  by  fifty-five.  Not  a  mast  that 
would  bear  canvas  was  left  standing  in  the  British  fleet ;  those  of  the 
flag-ship  were  splintered  like  bundles  of  matches,  and  the  sails  torn  to 
rags.  On  most  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  more  than  half  of  the  crews  were 
killed  or  wounded.  The  loss  on  the  British  side  p'-obably  aggregated 
three  hundred.  Midshipman  William  Lee  of  the  "  Confiance  "  wrote  home 
after  the  battle,  "The  havoc  on  both  sides  was  dreadful.  I  don't  think 
there  are  more  than  five  of  our  men,  out  of  three  hundred,  but  what  are 
killed  or  wounded.  Never  was  a  shower  of  hail  so  thick  as  the  shot 
whistling  about  our  ears.  Were  you  to  see  my  jacket,  waistcoat,  and 
trousers,  you  would  be  astonished  to  know  how  I  escaped  as  I  did  ;  for 
they  are  literally  torn  all  to  rags  with  shot  and  splinters.  The  upper  part 
of  my  hat  was  also  shot  away.  There  is  one  of  the  marines  who  was  in 
the  Trafalgar  action  with  Lord  Nelson,  who  says  it  was  a  mere  flea-bite 
in  comparison  with  thi.  " 

The  Americans,  though  victorious,  had  suffered  greatly.  Their  loss 
am<^unted  to  about  two  hundred  men.  The  "  Saratoga "  had  been  cut  up 
beyond  the  possibility  of  repair.  Her  decks  were  covered  with  dead  and 
dying.  The  shot  of  the  enemy  wrought  terrible  havoc  in  the  ranks  of 
the  American  oflficers.  Lieut.  Stansbury  of  the  "  Ticonderoga "  suddenly 
disappeared  in  the  midst  of  the  action  ;  nor  could  any  trace  of  him  be 
found,  until,  two  days  later,  his  body,  cut  nearly  in  two  by  a  round  shot, 


f  *i 


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31 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


rose  from  the  waters  of  the  lake.  Lieut.  Vallette  of  the  "Saratoga"  was 
knocked  down  by  the  head  of  a  sailor,  sent  flying  by  a  cannon-ball.  Some 
minutes  later  he  was  standing  on  a  shot-box  giving  orders,  when  a  shot 
took  the  box  from  beneath  his  feet,  throwing  him  heavily  upon  the  deck. 
Mr.  Brum,  the  master,  a  veteran  man-o'-war's  man,  was  struck  by  a  huge 
splinter,  which  knocked  him  down,  and  actually  stripped  every  rag  of 
clothing  from  his  body.  He  was  thought  to  be  dead,  but  soon  re-appeared 
at  his  post,  with  a  strip  of  canvas  about  his  waist,  and  fought  bravely 
until  the  end  of  the  action.  Some  days  before  the  battle,  a  gentleman 
of  Oswego  gave  one  of  the  sailors  a  glazed  tarpaulin  hat,  of  the  kind  then 
worn  by  seamen.  A  week  later  the  sailor  re-appeared,  and,  handing 
him  the  hat  with  a  semi-circular  cut  in  the  crown  and  brim,  made  while 
it  was  on  his  head  by  a  cannon-shot,  remarked  calmly,  "Look  here,  rir. 
Sloane,  how  the  damned  John  Bulls  have  spoiled  my  hat !  " 

The  last  British  flag  having  been  hauled  down,  an  officer  -.vas  sert  to 
take  possession  of  the  "  Confiance."  In  walking  along  her  gun-deck,  he 
accidentally  ran  against  a  ratline,  by  which  one  of  her  starboard  guns  was 
discharged.  At  this  sound,  the  British  galleys  and  gunboats,  which  had 
been  lying  quietly  with  their  ensigns  down,  got  out  oars  and  moved  off 
up  the  lake.  The  Americans  had  no  vessels  fit  for  pursuing  them,  and 
they  were  allowed  to  escape.  In  the  afternoon  the  British  officers  came 
to  the  American  flag-ship  to  complete  the  surrender.  Macdonough  met 
them  courteously ;  and,  on  their  offering  their  swords,  put  them  back, 
saying,  "  Gentlemen,  your  gallant  conduct  makes  you  worthy  to  wear  your 
weapons.  Return  them  to  their  scabbards."  By  sundown  the  surrender 
was  complete,  and  Macdonough  sent  off  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  a 
despatch,  saying,  "  Sn',  —  The  Almighty  has  been  pleased  to  grant  us  a 
signal  victory  on  Lake  Champhiin,  in  the  capture  of  one  frigate,  one  brig, 
and  two  sloop?-of-war  of  the  enemy." 

Some  days  later,  the  captured  ships,  being  beyond  repair,  were  taken 
to  the  head  of  the  lake,  and  scuttled.  Some  of  the  guns  were  found  to 
be  still  loaded  ;  and,  in  drawing  the  charges,  one  gun  was  found  with  a 
canvas  bag  containing  two  round  shot  rammed  home,  and  wadded,  without 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


313 


any  powder ;  another  gun  contained  two  cartridges  and  no  shot ;  and  a 
third  had  a  wad  rammed  down  before  the  powder,  thus  effectually  prevent- 
ing the  discharge  of  the  piece.  The  American  gunners  were  not  altogether 
guiltless  of  carelessness  of  this  sort.  Their  chief  error  lay  in  ramming 
down  so  many  shot  upon  the  powder  that  the  force  of  the  explosion 
barely  carried  the  missiles  to  the  enemy.  In  proof  of  this,  tlie  side  of 
the  "Confiance"  was  thickly  dotted  with  round  shot,  which  had  struck 
into,  but  failed  to  penetrate,  the  wood. 

The  result  of  this  victory  was  immediate  and  gratifying.  The  land 
lorces  of  the  British,  thus  deprived  of  their  naval  auxiliaries,  turned  about, 
and  retreated  to  Canada,  abandoning  forever  their  projected  invasion. 
New  York  was  thus  saved  by  Macdonough's  skill  and  bravery.  Yet  the 
fame  he  won  by  his  victory  was  not  nearly  proportionate  to  the  naval 
ability  he  showed,  and  the  service  he  had  rendered  to  his  country,  liefore 
the  popular  adulation  of  Perry,  Macdonough  sinks  into  second  place.  One 
historian  only  gives  him  the  pre-eminence  that  is  undoubtedly  his  due. 
Says  Mr.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  in  his  admirable  history,  "  The  Naval  War 
of  1812,"  "But  Macdonough  in  this  battle  won  a  higher  fame  than  any 
other  commander  of  the  war,  British  or  American.  He  had  a  decidedly 
superior  force  to  contend  against,  and  it  was  solely  owing  to  his  foresight 
and  resource  that  we  won  the  victory.  He  forced  the  British  to  engage 
at  a  disadvantage  by  his  excellent  choice  of  position,  and  he  prepared 
beforehand  for  every  possible  contingency.  His  personal  prowess  had 
already  been  shown  at  the  cost  of  the  rovers  of  Tripoli,  and  in  this  action 
he  helped  fight  the  guns  as  ably  as  the  best  sailor.  His  skill,  seaman- 
ship, quick  eye,  readiness  of  resource,  and  indomitable  pluck  are  beyond 
all  praise.  Down  to  the  time  of  the  civil  war,  he  is  the  greatest  figure 
in  our  naval  history.  A  thoroughly  religious  man,  he  was  as  generous 
and  humane  as  he  was  skilful  and  brave.  One  of  the  greatest  of  our 
sea  captains,  he  has  left  a  stainless  name  behind  him." 


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CHAPTER    XIV. 

ON  THE  OCEAN.  — THE  WORK  OF  THE  SLOOPS-OF-WAR.  —  LOSS  OF  THE  "  FROLIC."- FRUIT- 
LESS CRUISE  OF  THE  "ADAMS."  — THE  "PEACOCK."  TAKES  THE  "  EPERVIER."  — THE  CRUISE 
OF  THE  "\VASP."-HHE  CAPTURES  THE  "  REINDEER."  — SINKS  THE  "  AVON."  —  MYSTERIOUS 
END  OF  THE  "  WASP." 

HE  opening  of  the  year  1814  found  the  American  coast  still 
rigidly  blockaded  by  the  British  men-of-war.  Two  or  three  of 
the  enemy  lay  off  the  mouth  of  every  considerable  harbor,  and 
were  not  to  be  driven  from  their  post  by  the  icy  winds  and  storms 
of  midwinter  on  the  American  coast.  It  was  almost  impossible  for  any 
American  vessel  to  escape  to  sea,  and  a  matter  of  almost  equal  difTiculty 
for  such  vessels  as  were  out  to  get  into  a  home  port.  The  frigate  "  Presi- 
dent"  had  put  to  sea  early  in  December,  1813,  and  after  a  cruise  of 
eight  weeks,  during  which  the  traditional  ill-luck  of  the  ship  pursued  her 
remorselessly,  managed  to  dash  into  New  York  Harbor  past  the  blockading 
squadron.  At  Boston  the  blockade  was  broken  by  the  "  Constitution." 
She  left  port  on  the   1st  of  January,  ran  off  to  the  southward,  and  cruised 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


315 


for  some  weeks  in  the  West  Indies.  Here  she  captured  the  British  man- 
of-war  schooner  "Pictou,"  fourteen  guns,  and  several  merchant-vessels. 
She  also  fell  in  with  the  British  thirty-six-gun  frigate  "  Pique,"  whicli  fled, 
and  escaped  pursuit  by  cutting  through  a  narrow  channel  during  a  dark  and 
squally  night.  The  "  Constitution "  then  returned  to  the  coast  of  the 
United  States,  and  narrowly  escaped  falling  into  the  clutches  of  two  British 
frigates.  She  managed  to  gain  the  shelter  of  Marblehead  Harbor,  and 
there  remained  until  the  latter  part  of  the  year. 

But,  while  the  larger  vessels  were  thus  accomplishing  little  or  nothing, 
two  or  three  small  sloops-of-war,  of  a  class  newly  built,  slipped  through  the 
enemy's  lines,  and,  gainmg  the  open  sea,  fought  one  or  two  notable  actions. 
Of  these,  the  first  vessel  to  get  to  sea  was  the  new  sloop-of-war  "Frolic;" 
but  her  career  was  short  and  inglorious,  for  she  had  been  at  sea  but  a 
few  weeks  when  she  fell  in  with  the  enemy's  frigate  "Orpheus"  and  the 
schooner  "Shelburne."  A  chase  ensued,  in  which  the  American  vessel 
threw  overboard  her  guns  and  anchors,  and  started  the  water ;  but  to  no 
avail,  for  she  was  overhauled,  and  forced  to  surrender.  Her  service  afloat 
was  limited  to  the  destruction  of  a  Carthagenian  privateer,  which  sunk 
before  her  guns,  carrying  down  nearly  a  hundred  men. 

The  "Adams,"  a  vessel  that  had  suffered  many  vicissitudes, — having 
been  built  for  a  frigate,  then  cut  down  to  a  sloop-of-war,  and  finally  been 
sawed  asunder  and  converted  into  a  corvette,  —  put  to  sea  on  the  i8th 
of  January,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Charles  Morris,  formerly  of  the 
"Constitution."  She  laid  her  course  straight  to  the  eastward,  and  for 
some  time  cruised  off  the  western  coast  of  Africa  and  the  Canary  Isles. 
She  met  with  but  little  success  in  this  region,  capturing  only  three  brigs, 
—  the  cargo  of  one  of  which  consisted  of  wine  and  fruit;  and  the  second, 
of  palm-oil  and  ivory.  Abandoning  the  African  coast,  the  corvette  turned 
westward  along  the  equator,  and  made  for  the  West  Indies.  A  large 
Indiaman  fell  in  her  way,  and  was  brought  to ;  but,  before  the  Americans 
could  take  possession  of  their  prize,  a  British  fleet  of  twenty-five  sail,  with 
two  men-of-war,  hove  in  sight,  and  the  "  Adams "  was  forced  to  seek 
safety  in   flight.      She   put  into  Savannah  for  provisions  and  water,  but, 


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BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1S12. 


hearing  that  the  enemy  was  in  force  near  by,  worked  out  to  sea,  and 
made  sail  for  another  cruise.  Capt.  Morris  took  up  a  position  on  the 
limits  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  near  the  Florida  coast,  in  the  expectation  of 
cutting  out  an  Indiaman  from  some  passing  convoy.  The  expected  fleet 
soon  came,  but  was  under  the  protection  of  a  seventy-four,  two  frigates, 
and  three  brigs,  —  a  force  sufficient  to  keep  at  bay  ^he  most  audacious  of 
corvettes.  Morris  hung  about  the  convoy  for  two  dfys,  but  saw  no  chance 
of  eluding  the  watchful  guards.  He  then  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the 
coast  of  Ireland.  Here  the  "Adams"  narrowly  escaped  capture;  for  she 
was  sighted  by  a  frigate,  which  gave  chase,  and  would  have  overhauled 
her,  had  not  the  Americans  thrown  overboard  some  small  cannon,  and 
cut  away  their  anchors.  Thus  lightened,  the  corvette  sped  away,  and  soon 
left  her  pursuers  behind. 

Continued  iM-fortune  now  reduced  the  spirits  of  the  sailors  of  the 
"Adams"  to  very  low  ebb.  They  were  forced  to  struggle  unceasingly 
against  the  fiti-c^  g"  os  which  in  winter  sweep  the  Atlantic.  Their  stock 
of  food  and  water  was  giving  out ;  and,  to  add  to  their  distress,  scurvy, 
the  sai'ors'  worst  enemy,  began  to  show  itself  in  the  ship.  They  had 
boldly  run  into  the  very  ^  iters  in  which  the  "Argus"  had  won  so  rich  a 
reward,  yet  not  a  sail  gladdened  the  eyes  of  the  lookout  on  the  "Adams." 
It  was  then  with  great  disappointment  that  the  jackies  saw  the  prow  of 
the  corvette  turned  homeward,  after  a  cruise  that  would  bring  them  neither 
honor  nor  prize-money.  The  passage  homeward  was  quickly  made,  and 
on  the  1 6th  of  August  the  vessel  was  in  soundings  off  the  coast  of  Maine. 
Night  fell,  with  a  dense  fog  concealing  all  landmarks  from  view.  Through 
the  darkness  the  corvette  sped  on  at  a  pace  of  eleven  miles  an  hour, 
until,  just  as  day  was  breaking,  the  cry  of  "Breakers  ahead ! "  was  followed 
by  a  heavy  blow,  indicating  that  the  ship  had  struck.  The  force  of  the 
blow  had  not  been  sufficient  to  stave  in  the  bottom,  —  a  fortunate  fact,  for 
the  hold  was  full  of  prisoners.  Nevertheless,  she  was  hard  and  fast  aground, 
on  a  ledge  of  rock  that  lifted  her  bow  six  feet  above  her  stern.  Morris, 
who  had  rushed  upon  deck  at  the  first  alarm,  was  unable  to  make  out 
the  ship's  position,  and  feared  that  they  were  on  Cashes  Ledge,  a  reef  so 


iMj^Dii'MCMiilllmili'  tr  ■  F.-JJ'*-'-S!i;i!!':W«'fr'iTT«v« 


!i      I 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    uSi 


Z^7 


far  from  the  land  that  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  save  in  the  boats 
more  than  half  the  crew.  He  had  determined,  however,  to  instantly  lower 
the  boats  and  send  them  off  in  search  of  land,  when  a  gust  of  wind, 
blowing  away  the  fog,  showed  a  beetling  cliff  not  a  hundred  yards  away. 
Rugged  and  inhospitable  as  was  the  coast  thus  exposed,  it  was  better 
than  an  expanse  of  ocean ;  and  at  once  Morris  set  to  work  landing  his 
prisoners,  and  the  sick,  of  whom  the  "  Adams "  had  nearly  sixty.  With 
spare  sails,  tents  were  put  up  on  the  beach  ;  and,  stores  having  been  landed, 
the  comfort  of  all  was  assured,  in  case  the  ship  should  go  to  pieces. 
What  the  desolate  shore  was  to  which  they  were  thus  forced  to  turn  for 
shelter,  no  one  knew. 

All  hands  now  turned  to  at  the  capstan,  in  the  hopes  of  getting  the 
vessel  off ;  and  about  noon,  the  tide  having  reached  its  flood,  she  gradually 
slid  off  the  ledge  into  deep  water.  After  trying  the  pumps,  to  see  if 
any  serious  leak  had  been  started,  the  difficult  task  of  taking  the  ship 
out  of  the  labyrinth  of  reefs  in  which  she  lay  was  begun.  For  more  tljan 
two  miles  their  course  lay  through  a  narrow  and  tortuous  channel,  bordered 
on  either  side  with  jagged  reefs  ;  but  the  corvette  safely  threaded  l.er 
way  between  the  rocks,  and  soon  lay  floating  in  deep  water.  The  ne.xt 
morning  the  fog  blew  away ;  and  the  voyaj^ers  discovered  to  their  aston- 
ishment that  they  were  off  Mount  Desert,  instead  of  near  Portsmouth  as 
they  had  expected. 

To  return  into  the  cluster  of  reefs  after  the  little  colony  of  invalids 
and  prisoners  that  had  been  left  behind,  would  have  been  mere  folly :  so 
sending  two  fishing-boats  to  search  out  the  sliore  party,  and  carry  them 
to  the  nearest  village,  the  "  Adams "  continued  her  course,  intending  to 
put  into  the  Penobscot  River.  While  making  for  this  point,  a  sail  was 
sighted,  which  proved  to  be  the  British  brig-sloop  "  Rifleman."  The 
corvette  gave  chase,  but  the  Englishman  kept  well  in  the  offing ;  and,  as 
the  condition  of  the  American  crew  was  such  that  to  lead  them  into 
action  would  have  been  imprudent,  Morris  abandoned  the  pursuit,  and, 
putting  into  the  Penobscot,  dropped  anchor  off  Hampden.  Here,  for  the 
present,  we  will  leave  the  "Adams." 


H     ' 


ii'i 


318 


BLUK-JACKKTS   OF    1S12. 


The  "Peacock"  —  a  second  of  the  new  sloops-of-war,  bearing  the  name 
of  a  captured  British  vessel  —  put  out  from  New  York  in  March,  and 
made  her  way  to  the  southward,  selecting  as  her  cruising  station  the 
waters  off  the  coast  of  Florida.  For  some  time  it  seemed  that  the  exer- 
tions of  the  sailors  were  to  be  of  no  avail.  Not  a  sail  was  to  be  seen, 
and  the  chances  for  prize-money  seemed  to  be  small  indeed.  But  on  the 
29th  of  March  three  merchant-vessels  were  made  out  in  the  offing ;  while 
a  heavy-built,  square-rigged,  trim-looking  craft  that  hovered  about  them 
was  evidently  a  man-of-war.  The  strangers  seemed  to  have  sighted  the 
American  vessel ;  for  the  merchantmen  were  seen  to  hastily  haul  up  and 
run  off  to  the  north-east,  while  the  man-of-war  edged  away  for  the 
American  ship. 

The  stranger  was  His  British  Majesty's  brig  sloop-of-war  "  Epervier," 
of  eighteen  guns,  and  carrying  a  crew  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
men.  The  "  Peacock  "  was  a  .ship-sloop  of  twenty-two  guns,  with  a  crew 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty-si.\  men.  The  advantage,  therefore,  lay  with 
the  Americans ;  but,  in  the  battle  that  ensued,  the  damage  they  inflicted 
upon  the  enemy  was  out  of  any  proportion  to  their  excess  of  strength. 

The  two  ships  bore  down  gallantly  upon  each  other,  and  at  a  little 
after  ten  in  the  morning  passed,  exchanging  heavy  broadsides.  The  shot 
of  each  took  effect  in  the  rigging ;  but  the  "  Peacock "  suffered  the 
more,  having  her  foreyard  totally  disabled, — an  injury  that  compelled 
her  to  run  large  during  the  rest  of  the  action,  and  forego  all  attempts 
at  manoeuvring.  The  two  vessels  having  passed  each  other,  the  "Epervier" 
eased  off,  and  returned  to  the  fight,  running  on  a  parallel  course  with 
the  American  ship.  The  interchange  of  broadsides  then  became  very 
rapid ;  but  the  British  marksmanship  was  poor,  and  few  of  their  shot 
took  effect.  The  "  Epervier,"  on  the  contrary,  suffered  severely  from  the 
American  fire,  which  took  effect  in  her  hull,  dismounting  several  guns, 
and  so  injuring  the  brig  that  a  British  naval  officer,  writing  of  the  action 
some  years  later,  said,  "The  most  disgraceful  part  of  the  affair  was  that 
our  ship  was  cut  to  pieces,  and  the  enemy  hardly  scratched." 

The   injury  aloft   which   both   vessels   sustained   caused   the   battle   to 


ItLLK-JACKKTS   OF    1812. 


19 


take  on  the  character  of  an  action  at  long  range.  Under  such  conditions, 
the  victory  was  assured  to  the  side  showing  the  best  gunnery.  For  a 
moment  only  did  it  seem  that  the  vessels  were  likely  to  come  to  close 
quarters,  and  the  English  captain  seized  that  occasion  to  call  up  his 
boarders.  But  they  refused,  saying,  "She's  too  heavy  for  us."  And  a 
few  minutes  later  the  Englishman  hauled  down  his  flag,  having  lost  nine 
killed  or  mortally  wounded,  and  fourteen  wounded.  The  Americans  had 
suffered  but  little;  only  two  men  being  injured,  and  these  but  slightly. 
The  shot  of  the  enemy  had  passed  through  the  rigging  of  the  "  Pea- 
cock," while  the  "Epervier"  had  been  hulled  forty-five  times. 

The  "Epervier"'  proved  to  be  a  valuable  prize.  In  her  hold  specie 
to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  thousand  dollars  was  found  ; 
and,  when  the  brig  was  sold  to  the  United  States  Government,  she  brought 
fifty-five  thousand  dollars :  so  that  the  prize-money  won  by  that  action 
kept  the  sailors  in  good-humor  for  many  months  to  come.  But,  before 
the  prize  could  be  safely  carried  into  an  American  port,  she  had  a  gantlet 
to  run,  in  which  she  narrowly  escaped  capture.  After  the  wreck  of  battle 
had  been  cleared  away,  the  brig  and  her  captor  made  for  Savannah,  but 
were  sighted  and  chased  by  two  British  frigates.  The  "  Peacock,"  in  the 
hope  of  drawing  away  the  pursuers,  left  her  prize,  and  headed  out  to  sea. 
One  frigate  only  followed  her,  and  the  other  pressed  on  hotly  after  the 
"Epervier,"  which,  to  avoid  capture,  was  forced  to  run  into  shallow 
water,  whither  the  heavy  frigate  could  not  follow  her.  But  she  was 
not  to  escape  so  easily ;  for  the  boats  of  the  frigate  were  lowered,  filled 
with  armed  men,  and  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  brig,  which  moved  but 
slowly  before  the  light  breeze  then  blowing.  The  boats  soon  overhauled 
the  fugitive,  and  escape  seemed  hopeless  ;  for  the  "  Epervier  "  was  manned 
by  a  prize-crew  of  only  sixteen  men.  But  Lieut.  Nicholson,  who  was  in 
command,  determined  to  try  the  effect  of  bluster.  Accordingly  he  leaped 
upon  the  taffrail,  with  a  speaking-trumpet  in  his  hand,  and  shouted  out 
orders  as  if  calling  a  huge  crew  to  quarters.  The  British,  who  were 
within  easy  range,  stopped  their  advance,  and,  fearing  a  destructive  broad- 
side from  the  brig's  guns,  turned  and  fled  precipitately.     The  "  Epervier  " 


'   ^ 


1      |(: 


1.:       1 


PT| 


.^,20 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF   181 2. 


|!M| 


continued  her  course,  and  reached  Savannah  in  safety  on  the  1st  of  May. 
The  "  Peacock  "  reached  the  same  port  four  days  later. 

At  the  moment  when  the  captured  "  Epervier,"  flying  the  stars  and 
stripes,  was  proudly  making  her  way  up  the  harbor  of  Savannah  amid 
the  plaudits  of  the  people  of  the  little  city,  there  sailed  from  Portsmouth, 
N.H.,  a  vessel  that  was  destined  to  fight  a  good  fight  for  the  honor  of 
that  starry  banner ;  and,  after  winning  a  glorious  victory,  to  disappear 
forever  from  the  face  of  the  ocean,  carrying  to  some  unknown  grave  a 
crew  of  as  brave  hearts  as  ever  beat  under  uniforms  of  navy  blue. 

This  was  the  new  sloop  of  war  "Wasp,"  named  after  the  gallant  little 
craft  that  had  been  taken  by  the  British  after  her  capture  of  the  "  P>olic." 
She  was  a  stanch  three-master,  carrying  eleven  guns  to  a  broadside.  Her 
crew  was  purely  American,  not  a  foreigner  among  them  ;  but  all  trained 
seamen  from  the  seaboard  villages  and  towns  of  New  England,  —  the  homes 
at  that  time  of  probably  the  hardiest  seafaring  population  in  the  world. 
Capt.  Blakely,  who  commanded  the  vessel,  had  been  attached  to  the 
"  Enterprise "  for  some  time,  but  had  been  ordered  to  the  command  of 
the  "  Wasp "  a  few  days  before  the  former  vessel  fought  her  successful 
battle  with  the  "Boxer."  Blakely,  while  in  command  of  the  "Enterprise," 
had  greatly  desired  to  meet  an  enemy  worthy  of  his  metal.  Great,  then, 
was  his  chagrin,  when  the  "  Enterprise,"  two  weeks  after  he  quitted  her, 
fought  her  gallant  battle.  In  a  letter  written  in  January,  18 14,  he  says, 
"  I  shall  ever  view  as  one  of  the  most  unfortunate  events  of  my  life  having 
quitted  the  '  Enterprise '  at  the  moment  I  did.  Had  I  remained  in  her  a 
fortnight  longer,  my  name  might  have  been  classed  with  those  who  stand 
so  high.  I  cannot  but  consider  it  a  mortifying  circumstance  that  I  left  her 
but  a  few  days  before  she  fell  in  with  the  only  enemy  upon  this  station  with 
which  she  could  have  creditably  contended.  I  confess  I  felt  heartily  glad 
when  I  received  my  order  to  take  command  of  the  'Wasp,'  conceiving  that 
there  was  no  hope  of  doing  any  thing  in  the  '  Enterprise.'  But  when  I 
heard  of  the  contest  of  the  latter  ship,  and  witnessed  the  great  delay  in 
the  equipment  of  the  former,  I  had  no  cause  to  congratulate  myself.  The 
'  Peacock '  has  ere  this  spread  her  plumage  to  the  winds,  and  the  *  Frolic ' 


i    ! 


BLUE-JACKKTS   OF    1S12. 


321 


will  soon  take  her  revels  on  the  ocean  ;  but  the  '  Wasp '  will,  I  fear,  remain 
for  some  time  a  dull,  harmless  drone  in  the  waters  of  her  country." 

Notwithstanding  his  impatience,  Blakely  was  forced  to  endure  the 
restraints  of  Portsmouth  navy-yard  for  nearly  three  months,  while  the 
"Wasp"  was  fitting  out;  but  when  she  did  finally  get  to  sea,  on  May  i, 
1814,  she  proved  herself  to  be  far  from  a  "dull,  harmless  drone."  Slipping 
unobserved  through  the  British  blockading  line,  the  "  Wasp  "  made  straight 
for  the  European  coast  before  a  fresh  wind,  and  was  soon  cruising  in  the 
chops  of  the  English  channel,  where  the  "Argus"  had  won  her  laurels 
and  met  with  her  defeat.  Many  English  merchantmen  were  captured  and 
burned,  and  the  terror  that  spread  in  English  shipping  circles  recalled  the 
days  of  the  "Argus." 

At  daylight  on  the  28th  of  June,  the  "  Wasp  "  sighted  two  merchantmen, 
and  straightway  gave  chase.  Soon  a  third  vessel  was  discovered  on  the 
weather-beam ;  and,  abandoning  the  vessels  first  sighted,  the  American 
bore  down  upon  the  stranger.  She  proved  to  he  the  "Reindeer,"  a 
British  brig-sloop  of  eighteen  guns,  carrying  a  crew  of  one  hundred  and 
eighteen  men.  Although  the  British  vessel  was  by  no  means  a  match 
in  weight  of  metal  for  the  "  Wasp,"  her  captain,  William  Manners,  brought 
her  into  action  with  a  cool  gallantry  which  well  justified  his  reputation  as 
one  of  the  bravest  men  in  the  British  navy. 

At  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  ships  were  near  enough  to  each 
other  to  exchange  signals,  but  several  hours  were  spent  in  manceuvring  for 
the  weather-gage ;  so  that  it  was  not  until  after  three  in  the  afternoon  that 
the  action  fairly  opened.  The  day  was  admirably  suitable  for  a  naval 
battle.  Light  clouds  floated  across  the  sky,  and  the  gentle  breeze  that 
was  blowing  had  sufficient  strength  to  propel  the  ships  without  careening 
them.  The  surface  of  the  ocean  was  unusually  calm  for  that  quarter,  in 
which  a  rather  choppy  sea  is  usually  running.  Before  the  light  breeze  the 
"  Wasp  "  came  down  upon  her  f.  _,  bows  on,  with  her  decks  cleared  for 
action,  and  the  men  at  their  quuriers.  On  the  top-gallant  forecastle  of 
the  "Reindeer"  was  mounted  a  twelve-pound  carronade,  and  the  action 
was  opened  by  the  discharge  of  this  piece.     In  the  position  she  then  held, 


i  .■■  I 


1 1 


3^-^ 


1 JI, UK-JACK  I  "rs   OF    1.S12. 


tlie  "Wasp"  was  unable  to  reply;  and  Ikt  crew  had  to  hear  five  effective 
shots  from  this  j;iin  without  hein^t;  able  to  fire  a  shot  in  return, — an  ordeal 
that  less  well-disciplined  crews  might  not  have  endured,  l-'or  nine  minutes 
the  Americans  returned  not  a  shot  ;  but  then  the  "  Wasp  "  luffed  up,  firing 
the  guns  from  aft  forward  as  they  bore.  The  two  ships  were  now  lying 
broadside  to  broadside,  not  twenty  yards  apart,  and  every  shot  told.  For 
ten  minutes  this  position  was  held,  and  the  two  crews  worked  like  .'^  in 

loading  and  firing  the  great  guns.  The  roar  of  the  cannon  was  incessant, 
and  the  recoil  of  the  heavy  explosions  deadened  what  little  way  the  ships 
had  on  when  fire  was  opened.  Capt.  Manners  was  too  old  an  officer  not 
to  know,  that,  in  an  artillery  duel  of  that  kind,  the  victory  would  surely 
rest  with  the  side  that  carried  the  heaviest  guns  :  so  he  ran  his  vessel  aboard 
the  "Wasp"  on  the  starboard  quarter,  intending  to  board  and  carry  the 
the  day  with  the  stubborn,  dashing  gallantry  shown  by  British  seamen  when 
once  led  to  an  enemy's  deck.  At  the  ringing  notes  of  the  bugle,  calling 
up  the  boarders,  the  British  gathered  aft,  their  faces  begrimed  with  gun- 
powder, their  arms  bare,  and  their  keen  cutlasses  firmly  clutched  in  their 
strong  right  hands.  The  Americans  took  the  alarm  at  once,  and  c"'iwded 
forward  to  repel  the  enemy.     The  marines,  whose   hard  duty  it  i;  )ng- 

rangc  fighting  to  stand  with  military  impassiveness,  drawn  up  iu  .  .^  on 
deck,  while  the  shot  whistle  by  them,  and  now  and  then  cut  great  gaps  in 
their  straight  lines, — the  marines  came  aft,  with  their  muskets  loaded  and 
bayonets  fixed.  Before  them  were  sailors  with  sharp-pointed  boarding- 
pikes,  ready  to  receive  the  enemy  should  he  come  aboard  ;  while  close  under 
the  bulwarks  were  grouped  the  boarders,  ready  with  cutlass  and  pistol  to  beat 
back  the  flood  of  men  that  should  come  pouring  over  the  side.  The  grating 
of  the  ships'  sides  told  that  the  vessels  were  touching ;  and  the  ne.xt  instant 
the  burly  British  seamen,  looming  up  like  giants,  as  they  dashed  through  the 
dense  murkincss  of  the  powder-smoke,  were  among  the  Americans,  cutting 
and  firing  right  and  left.  From  the  deck  of  the  "Reindeer"  the  marines 
kept  up  a  constant  fire  of  musketry,  to  which  the  sea-soldiers  of  the 
"Wasp"  responded  vigorously.  Marksmen  posted  in  the  tops  of  each  vessel 
picked  off  men  from  their  enemy's  decks,  choosing  generally  the  oflficers. 


1\m  ■  -■."«wiU-.' 


BOARDING  THE    REINDEER. 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


325 


Sharp  and  bloody  though  the  British  attack  was.  the  boarders  could 
make  no  way  against  the  stubborn  stand  of  the  Americans.  Capt. 
Manners,  seeing  his  men  beaten  back,  sprang  forward  to  rally  them.  He 
was  desperately  wounded.      A  gun-shot  had  passed  through  his  thighs,  and  a 


THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THF,  "REINDEER." 

grape-shot  had  cut  across  the  calves  of  his  legs  ;  but,  maimed  and  bleeding 
to  death  as  he  was,  he  leaped  into  the  rigging,  and,  cheering  and  waving  his 
sword,  called  to  his  men  to  follow  him  to  the  decks  of  the  Yankee.  The 
Britons  rallied  nobly  under  the  encouragement  of  their  brave  captain,  an'l 
again  advanced  to  the  assault.     But  the  figure  of  the  daring  officer,  as  he 


i'  1 


326 


bluf:-jackets  of  1812. 


I 


stood  thus  before  his  men,  waving  his  sword  and  calling  on  them  to  come 
on,  caught  the  eye  of  one  of  the  men  in  the  "Wasp's"  main-top;  and  the 
next  instant  a  ball  crashed  into  the  captain's  brain,  and  he  fell  heavily  to 
the  deck,  with  his  dying  eyes  turned  upwards  toward  the  flag  in  whose 
service  he  had  given  his  life. 

Seeing  the  British  captain  fall  and  the  men  waver,  Capt.  Blakely 
with  a  cheer  called  up  the  boarders  of  the  "Wasp;"  and  in  an  instant  a 
stream  of  shouting  sailors,  cutlass  in  hand,  was  pouring  over  the  hammock- 
nettings,  and  driving  the  foe  backward  on  his  own  decks.  The  British 
still  fought  stubbornly ;  but  their  numbers  were  terribly  tl  jd,  and  their 
officers  had  fallen  one  by  one,  until  now  the  captain's  clerk  was  the  highest 
officer  left.  Seeing  his  men  falling  back  before  the  resistless  torrent  of 
boarders,  this  gentleman  finally  struck  the  flag;  and  the  battle  ended,  twenty- 
seven  minutes  after  the  "Reindeer"  had  fired  the  opening  gun,  and  eighteen 
after  the  "Wasp  "  had  responded. 

The  execution  and  damage  done  on  the  "Reindeer"  by  the  "Wasp's" 
shot  were  appalling.  Of  her  crew  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  men,  thirty- 
three  were  killed  or  fatally  wounded,  and  thirty-four  were  wounded.  The 
havoc  wrought  among  her  officers  has  already  been  mentioned.  Evidence 
of  the  accuracy  and  skill  of  the  American  gunners  was  to  be  seen  in  the 
fact  that  the  brig  was  completely  cut  to  pieces  in  the  line  of  her  ports, 
ller  decks  were  swept  clean  of  boats,  spars,  and  rigging.  Her  masts 
wore  badly  shattereil,  and  her  fore-mast  soon  went  by  the  board.  The 
"Wasp"  had  suffered  severely,  but  was  in  much  better  condition  than 
her  captured  adversary.  Eleven  of  her  crew  were  k'Med  or  mortally 
wounded,  and  fifteen  were  wounded  severely  or  slightly.  She  had  been 
hulled  by  si.x  round  and  many  grape  shot,  and  her  fore-mast  had 
been  cut  by  a  twenty-four-pound  shot.  A  few  hours'  work  cleared  from 
her  decks  all  trace  of  the  bloody  fight,  and  she  was  in  condition  for 
another  action.  But  it  would  have  been  folly  to  try  to  get  the  crippled 
"  Reindeer "  to  port  from  that  region,  swarming  with  British  cruisers  :  so 
Capt.  Blakely  took  the  prisoners  on  the  "Wasp,"  put  a  few  of  the 
wounded   on  a   neutral    vessel   that    happened   to   pass,  and,   burning   the 


11 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1S12. 


327 


prize,  made  his  way  to  the  harbor  of  L'Orient.  He  had  fought  a  brave 
fight,  and  come  out  victor  after  a  desperate  contest.  But,  though  defeated, 
the  plucky  British  might  well  boast  of  the  gallant  manner  in  which  they 
engaged  an  enemy  so  much  their  superior  in  strength.  History  nowhere 
records  a  more  gallant  death   than   that  of   the   British   captain,  who  fell 


THE  END  Ut   THli  "REINDEER." 


leading  his  men  in  a  da.shing  but  vain  attempt  to  retrieve  the  day  by 
boarding.  In  its  mantcuvring,  in  the  courage  and  discipline  of  the  crews, 
and  in  the  gallantry  of  the  two  captains,  the  action  of  the  "  Wasp "  and 
the  "Reindeer"  may  well  go  down  to  history  as  a  mf)del  naval  duel  of  the 
age  of  sails. 

The  "Wasp"  remained  in  port  for  several  weeks,  occujiyiiig  the  time 
in    refitting,   and    filling   the   gaps   in   her   crew   by   enlistment   from   the 


328 


BLUE-JACK KTS  OF    1812. 


I' 


American  privateers  which  then  were  to  be  seen  occasionally  in  every 
port  of  the  world.  She  then  put  out  to  sea,  and  soon  fell  in  with  a 
convoy  of  ten  British  merchantmen,  under  the  protection  of  the  seventy- 
four  "Armada."  Though  he  had  no  intention  of  giving  battle  to  the 
line-of-battle  ship,  Blakely  determined  to  capture  one  of  the  merchant- 
men ;  and  to  this  end  the  "Wasp"  hung  upon  the  skirts  of  the  convoy, 
making  rapid  dashes  now  at  one  vessel,  then  at  another,  and  keeping  the 
seventy-four  in  constant  anxiety.  Finally  the  swi*"*;  little  cruiser  actually 
succeeded  in  capturing  one  of  the  vessels,  and  escaping  before  the  heavy 
seventy-four  could  get  to  the  scene  of  the  conflict.  The  prize  proved  to 
be  a  valuable  one,  for  she  was  laden  with  iron  and  brass  cannon  and 
military  stores. 

Towards  nightfall  of  the  same  day,  Sept.  i,  1814,  four  more  sail  were 
sighted  ;  and  the  "Wasp"  at  once  made  off  in  chase  of  the  most  weatherly. 
At  eight  o'clock  the  "  Wasp "  had  gained  so  rapidly  upon  the  chase,  that 
the  latter  began  firing  with  her  stern  chaser,  and  soon  after  opened  with 
one  of  her  lee  guns.  All  the  time  the  enemy  kept  up  a  vigorous  sig- 
nalling with  rockets,  lanterns,  and  guns.  Hy  half-past  nine  the  "  Wasp " 
was  within  hailing-distance,  and  an  officer  posted  on  the  bow  hailed  the 
stranger  several  times  ;  but  as  she  returned  no  satisfactory  answer,  and 
refused  to  heave  to,  the  "  Wasp "  opened  upon  her  with  a  twelve-pound 
carronade,  and  soon  after  poured  a  broadside  into  her  quarter.  The  two 
ships  ploughed  through  the  black  water,  under  full  sail,  side  by  side. 
The  Americans  had  no  idea  of  the  identity  of  their  assailant,  but,  by  the 
flashes  of  the  guns,  could  see  that  she  was  a  heavy  brig.  Her  ports 
gleamed  brightly  with  battle-lanterns  ;  and  the  crowds  of  sailors  in  the 
tops,  and  the  regularity  of  iicr  fire,  showed  that  she  was  a  man-of-war 
with  a  well-disciplined  crew,  and  no  mere  marauding  privateer.  For  a 
time  this  running  fight  continued  at  such  short  range  that  the  only 
American  injured  was  struck  by  a  wad  from  the  enemy's  cannon.  The 
British  gunners  were  poor  marksmen,  and  the  "Wasp"  suffered  but  little; 
but  it  was  evident  that  the  American  fire  was  taking  effect,  for  gun 
after   gun   on    the   enemy  was   silenced.     At   ten   o'clock   the  Americans, 


iglMIMI 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


329 


receiving  no  response  to  their  carronade,  stopped  firing ;  and  Capt.  Wakcly, 
seizing  a  speaking-trumpet,  shouted  across  the  water,  "Have  you  struck?" 
No  answer  came,  and  the  enemy  began  a  feeble  fire,  llie  "  Wasp "  let 
fly  another  broadside,  and  Blakely  repeated  the  question.  This  time  an 
affirmative  response  came  through  the  darkness;  and  the  "Wasp"  stopped 
firing,  and  made  preparations  to  take  possession  of  her  prize.  Just  as 
the  boat  was  being  lowered  from  the  davits,  the  lookout's  cry  of  "  Sail, 
ho ! "  checked  the  proceedings.  Through  the  black  night  a  cloud  of 
canvas  could  be  seen  far  astern,  denoting  the  presence  of  another  ship, 
probably  an  enemy.  The  drums  of  the  "  Wasp "  beat  fiercely  ;  and  the 
men  trooped  back  to  their  quarters,  ready  for  a  second  battle.  Jhit  in 
the  mean  time  two  more  sail  hove  in  sight,  and  there  remained  to  the 
"  Wasp  "  nothing  but  flight.  She  accordingly  made  off  into  the  darkness, 
receiving  one  broadside  from  one  of  the  newly  arrived  men-of-war  as  she 
departed.  So  suddenly  was  she  forced  to  fly,  that  she  was  unable  to 
learn  the  name  and  condition  of  the  vessel  she  had  forced  to  surrender. 

It  became  known  in  the  United  States  later  that  the  "  Wasp's  " 
adversary  in  the  battle  in  the  darkness  was  the  British  sloop-of-war 
"  Avon,"  of  eighteen  guns.  She  was  badly  cut  up  by  the  fire  of  the 
American  gunners,  losing  her  main-mast  early  in  the  action.  At  the 
time  she  surrendered,  she  was  in  a  sinking  condition  ;  and,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  timely  arrival  of  the  brig-sloop  "  Castilian  "  and  the  "  Tar- 
tarus," both  Ikitish,  the  crew  of  the  "  Avon  "  would  have  been  prisoners 
on  the  "Wasp,"  or  carried  to  the  bottom  in  the  shattered  hulk  of  their 
own  ship.  The  loss  on  the  "Avon  '  was  ten  killed  and  thirty-two  wounded, 
while  on  the  "Wasp"  but  three  men  were  injured. 

Of  all  this  the  gallant  Capt.  Blakely  was  ignorant  ;  and,  indeed,  it  is 
probable  that  he  never  knew  with  whom  he  had  fought  his  last,  battle. 
For  the  subsequent  history  of  the  "  Wasp  "  is  more  tragic  in  its  unfathom- 
able mystery  than  is  the  fate  of  the  bravest  ship  ever  sent  to  the  bottom 
by  the  broadsides  of  an  enemy.  What  was  the  end  of  the  "Wasp,"  and 
where  her  bones  now  lie,  no  one  knows.  For  some  little  time  after  her 
battle  with   the  "Avon,"  her  movements   can   be   traced.     Sept.    12,  she 


!  a 


)      ! 


Jd^ 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


captured  the  British  brig  "  Three  Jirothers,"  and  scuttled  her ;  two  days 
later,  the  brig  "Bacchus"  met  the  same  fate  at  her  hands.  Sept.  21,  she 
took  the  brig  "  Atlanta,"  eight  guns ;  and,  this  being  a  valuable  prize, 
Midshipman  Gcisinger  of  the  "  Wasp "  was  put  on  board,  and  took  her 
safely  to  Savannah.  He  brought  the  last  news  that  was  heard  of  the  ill- 
fated  cruiser  for  many  years.  Months  passed,  and  lengthened  into  years  ; 
and  still  the  "  Wasp "  came  not  into  port,  nor  could  any  trace  of  her 
whereabouts  be  found.  As  time  passed  on,  the  attempts  to  account  for 
her  delay  changed  into  theories  as  to  the  cause  of  her  total  disappearance. 
All  sorts  of  rumors  were  afloat.  According  to  one  account,  the  ship  was 
wrecked  on  the  African  coast,  and  her  gallant  lads  were  ending  their  weary 
lives  as  slaves  to  the  turbaned  Moors  of  Barbary.  Another  theory  was 
based  on  the  rumor  that  an  English  frigate  went  into  Cadiz  much  crippled, 
and  with  her  crew  severely  injured,  and  reported  that  she  had  been  engaged 
with  a  heavy  American  corvette,  which  had  so  suddenly  disappeared  that 
she  was  thought  to  have  sunk  with  all  on  board.  But,  as  time  passed  on, 
the  end  of  the  "  Wasp "  was  forgotten  by  all  save  a  few  whose  hearts 
ached  for  some  of  the  gallant  lads  thus  blotted  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 

Years  after,  the  fate  of  the  daring  cruiser  was  again  brought  into 
remembrance  by  fresh  news  curiously  found.  When  the  officers  and  crew 
of  the  "  Essex,"  after  that  vessel's  gallant  battle  with  the  "  Phoebe  "  and 
"Cherub,"  were  sent  to  the  United  States  under  parole,  two  officers 
remained  at  Valparaiso,  to  give  testimony  before  the  prize-court.  These 
gentlemen  were  Lieut.  McKnight,  and  Mr.  Lyman  a  master's  mate.  After 
going  to  Brazil  in  the  "  Phoebe,"  the  two  officers  took  pas.sage  in  a  Swedish 
brig  bound  for  England.  Months  passed  ;  and,  nothing  being  heard  from 
them,  their  friends  became  alarmed  for  their  safety.  In  that  time,  before 
the  day  of  the  telegraph  and  steam  transportation,  many  things  might 
have  easily  detained  the  two  officers  for  a  year  or  more,  and  nothing 
be  heard  of  them.  But,  when  two  years  had  passed,  inquiries  began  to  be 
made  as  to  their  fate,  both  by  their  friends  and  the  naval  authorities 
The  first  step  was  to  find  the  vessel  upon  which  they  had  left  Brazil. 
This  was  a  work  of  time ;  so  that  it  was  many  years  after  the  disappear- 


9B99 


SM 


'-^t 


'jM, 


^■^.'  • 


r^-^. 


M' 


THE   END  OF   THE    WASP. 


i  'i 


';  i 


i>^sft«<n«Bwiww«^^w*i«^^  ■*■' 


BLUE-JACKKTS   OF    1S12. 


333 


ancc  of  the  officers  when  the  brig  was  found  lying  at  a  London  dock. 
She  was  the  brig  "Adonis,"  and  the  master  proved  to  be  the  same  who 
had  commanded  her  when  the  two  officers  had  taken  passage.  He  readily 
recalled  the  circumstance,  but  claimed  that  the  two  passengers  had  left 
him  in  mid-ocean  to  go  aboard  an  American  man-of-war ;  and  in  proof  of 
this  he  brought  out  the  log-book,  and,  turning  back  to  the  year  1814, 
pointed  out  the  following  entries  :  — 

"  Aug.  23.  —  Left  Rio  de  Janeiro  ;  Stephen  Decatur  McKnight  and  James  Lyman, 
passengers  for  England. 

"Oct.  9.  —  At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  discovered  a  strange  sail  giving 
chase  to  us,  and  fired  several  guns ;  she  gaining  very  fast.  At  half-past  ten  o'clock 
hove  to,  and  was  boarded  by  an  officer  dressed  in  an  English  doctor's  uniform  ; 
the  vessel  also  hoisted  an  English  ensign.  The  officer  proceeded  to  examine  my 
ship's  papers,  etc.,  likewise  the  letter-bags,  and  took  from  one  of  them  a  letter 
to  the  victualling  office,  London.  Finding  I  had  two  American  officers  as  passengers, 
he  immediately  left  the  ship,  and  went  on  board  the  sloop-of-war.  He  shortly 
after  returned,  took  the  American  gentlemen  witii  him,  and  went  a  second  time  on 
board  the  ship.  In  about  half  an  hour  he  returned,  with  Messrs.  McKnight  and 
Lyman ;  and  they  informed  me  that  the  vessel  was  the  United  States  sloop-of-war 
'  Wasp,'  commanded  by  Capt.  Blakely,  or  Blake,  last  from  France,  where  she  had 
refitted ;  had  lately  sunk  the  '  Reindeer,'  Englisii  sloop-of-war,  and  another  vessel, 
which  sunk  without  their  being  able  to  save  a  single  person,  or  learn  the  vessel's 
name ;  that  Messrs.  McKnight  and  Lyman  had  now  determined  to  lea\  e  me  and 
go  on  board  the  '  Wasp ; '  paid  me  their  passage  in  dollars,  at  ^s.  9^/. ;  and,  having 
taken  their  luggage  on  board,  the  '  Wasp '  made  sail  to  the  southward.  Shortly  after 
they  had  left,  I  discovered  that  Lieut.  McKnight  had  left  his  writing-desk  behind ; 
and  I  immediately  made  signal  for  the  '  Wasp '  to  return,  and  stood  towards  her. 
They,  observing  my  signal,  stood  back,  came  alongside,  and  sent  their  boat  on  board 
for  the  writing-desk  ;  after  which  they  sent  me  a  log-line  and  some  other  presents, 
and  made  all  sail  in  a  direction  for  the  line,  and,  I  have  reason  to  suppose,  for 
the  convoy  that  passed  on  Thursday  previous." 

And  so  the  "  Wasp,"  with  her  ill-fated  crew  thus  re-enforced,  passed 
forever  from  the  sight  of   man.     What  was  her  course  after  leaving  the 


'U 


334 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


"  Adonis,"  none  may  ever  know.  Whether  some  chance  spark,  touchinj; 
the  deadly  stores  of  her  magazhie,  sent  vessel  and  crew  to  a  sudden  but 
merciful  death  ;  or  whether,  after  gallantly  battling  with  some  fierce  tropical 
hurricane,  she  drifted  about  the  trackless  ocean  a  helpless  hulk,  with  a 
slowly  dying  crew,  carried  hither  and  yon  before  the  winds  and  the  cur- 
rents, until  her  timbers,  rotting  asunder,  gave  a  watery  sepulchre  to  her 
crew  of  lifeless  bodies,  must  remain  a  mystery  until  the  day  when  the 
sea  shall  give  up  its  dead.  But,  until  that  day  comes,  the  gallant  deeds 
done  by  vessel  and  crew  for  the  flag  under  which  they  served  should  keep 
the  names  of  the  "Wasp"  and  her  men  ever  memorable  in  the  annals 
of  the  great  nation  whose  infancy  they  so  gallantly  protected. 


-n 


CHAPTER   XV. 


OPERAIIONS  ON  THE  NEW  ENGLAND  COAST.  -  THE  BOMBARDMENT  OF  STONINGTON. - 
DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  CORVETTE  "  ADAMS."  —  OPERATIONS  ON  CHES.X- 
PEAKE  BAY.  — WORK  OF  BARNEY'S  BARGE  FLOTILLA. -ADVANCE  OF  THE  BRITISH  UPON 
WASHINGTON.- DE.STRUCTION  OF  THE  CAPITOL.  —  OPERATIONS  AGAINST  BALTIMORE.— 
BOMBARDMENT  OF   FORT  McHENRV. 

HE  remaining  work  of  the  British  blockading  squadrons  along 
the  Atlantic  Coast  demands  some  attention,  and  some  account 
must  be  given  of  certain  land  actions  which  were  inseparably 
connected  with  the  course  of  naval  events.  This  narrative  can 
well  be  divided  into  two  parts,  each  dealing  with  the  operations  of  one 
section  of  the  blockading  fleet ;  thus  tracing  the  course  of  events  up  to 
the  close  cT  the  war  on  the  New  England  coast,  before  taking  up  the 
proceedings  on  the  Chesapeake  station. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Decatur  had  been  checked  in  his  attempt 
to  break  the  blockade  at  the  eastern  end  of  Long  Island  Sound,  and  was 
forced  to  take  the  frigates  "  United  States  "  and  "  Macedonian,"  and  the 
sloop-of-war  "  Hornet,"  into  New  London  Harbor.  Early  in  December, 
1 813,  he  determined  to  try  to  slip  out;  and  choosing  a  dark  night,  when 
wind  and  tide  were  in  his  favor,  he  dropped  down  the  bay,  and  was  about 

335 


I 


hi: 

n   It: 

I  If 

I 


336 


HLUK-JACKKTS  OF    1812. 


tf)  put  to  sea,  when  bright  bhic  lights  blazed  up  on  either  side  of  the 
harbor's  mouth,  and  the  plan  was  exposed  by  the  treachery  of  some  party 
never  detected.  After  this  failure,  the  two  frigates  returned  up  the  river, 
where  they  remained  until  the  end  of  the  war.  The  "Hornet"  managed 
to  get  to  sea,  and  did  good  service  before  peace  was  declared. 

In  April,  18 14,  the  British  blockaders  on  the  New  England  coast 
began  active  operations  by  sending  an  expedition  up  the  Connecticut 
River  to  Pautopaug  Point,  where  the  invaders  landed,  spiked  the  guns 
of  a  small  battery,  and  destroyed  twenty-two  vessels.  Thence  they  pro- 
ceeded down  the  river,  burning  a  few  niorc  craft  on  the  way,  and  escaped 
safely  to  their  ships  ;  although  a  party  of  militia,  and  sailors  and  marines 
from  Decatur's  vessels,  attempted  to  cut  them  off.  Shortly  after  this 
occurrence,  a  fleet  of  American  gunboats  attacked  the  blockading  squadron 
off  New  London,  and  succeeded  in  inflicting  serious  damages  upon  the 
enemy. 

In  June,  the  enemy's  depredations  extended  to  the  Massachusetts 
coast.  The  little  village  of  Wareham  was  the  first  sufferer.  A  sudden 
descent  made  by  boats'  crews  from  the  frigates  "  Superb  "  and  "  Nimrod  " 
so  completely  surprised  the  inhabitants,  that  the  enemy  burned  the  ship- 
ping at  the  wharves,  set  fire  to  a  factory,  and  retreated  before  the  vil- 
lagers fully  comjirehended  the  blow  that  had  fallen  upon  them.  Like 
occurrences  took  place  at  other  coast-wise  towns ;  and,  in  every  case,  the 
militia  proved  powerless  to  check  the  enemy.  All  up  and  down  the  New 
England  coast,  from  Maine  to  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut  River,  the 
people  were  panic-stricken ;  and  hardly  a  night  passed  without  witnessing 
the  flames  of  some  bonfire  kindled  by  the  British  out  of  American 
property. 

In  August,  18 14,  Commodore  Hardy  appeared  off  Stonington  with  a 
fleet  of  several  vessels,  headed  by  the  seventy-four  "  Ramillies."  Casting 
anchor  near  shore,  he  sent  to  the  mayor  and  selectmen  the  fnHov  'ng 
curt  note:  "Not  wishing  to  destroy  the  unoffending  inhal  '*ant  residing 
in   the  town  of   Stonington,  one   hour  is  granted  them.  he   receipt 

of  this,  to  remove  out   of   town."     This   message   natui         caused   great 


ni,ui:-j.uKi;i's  of  iSiz. 


--.7 


v>Ji 


consternation  ;  and,  while  messengers  »vcre  sent  in  all  directions  to  call 
together  the  militia,  the  answer  was  returned  to  the  fleet :  "  We  shall 
defend  the  place  to  the  last  extremity.  Should  it  be  destroyed,  we  will 
perish  in  its  ruins."  And,  having  thus  defied  the  enemy,  the  farmers 
and  fishermen  who  inhabited  the  town  set  about  preparing  for  its  defence. 
The  one  battery  available  for  service  consisted  of  two  eighteen-pounders 
and  a  four-pounder,  mounted  behind  earth  breastworks.     The  gunners  were 


;-.  r"' 


<^- 


THE  DESCENT  ON   WAREH.AM. 


put  under  the  command  of  an  old  sailor,  who  had  been  impressed  into 
the  British  navy,  where  he  served  four  years.  The  skill  he  thus  acquired 
in  gunnery,  he  now  gladly  used  against  his  former  oppressors.  It  was 
near  nightfall  when  the  British  opened  fire  ;  and  they  kept  up  a  constant 
cannonade  with  round  shot,  bombs,  Congreve  rockets,  and  carcasses  until 
near  midnight,  without  doing  the  slightest  damage.  The  bursting  shells, 
the  fiery  rockets,  and  the  carcasses  filled  with  flaming  chemicals,  fairly 
filled  the  little  wooden  village  with  fire  ;  but  the  exertions  of  the  people 
prevented  the  spread  of  the  flames.     The  fleet  ceased  firing  at  midnight, 


33^ 


BLUK-JACKKIS  OK    1812. 


11 


*  ? 


hut  tliLTc  was  no  peace  for  the  villaf^crs.  Militiamen  were  pourinj;  in 
from  the  country  round  ahout,  lahorers  were  at  work  throwing  up  breast- 
work, carriers  were  tlashinij  ahout  in  search  of  ammunition,  and  all  was 
activity,  until,  with  the  first  <;leam  of  daylight,  the  fire  of  the  ships  was 
re-opened.  The  Americans  promptly  responded,  and  soon  two  eighteen- 
pound  shot  hulled  the  brig  "Despatch."  For  an  hour  or  two  a  rapid 
fire  was  kept  up;  then,  the  powder  giving  out,  the  Americans  spiked 
their  largest  gun,  and,  nailing  a  flag  to  the  battery  flag-staff,  went  in 
search  of  more  ammunition.  The  liritish  did  not  land  ;  and  the  Ameri- 
cans, finding  six  kegs  of  powder,  took  the  gun  to  a  blacksmith,  who 
drilled  out  the  sjiike,  and  the  action  continued.  So  \  igorous  and  well 
directed  was  the  fire  of  the  Americans,  that  the  "Despatch"  was  forced 
to  slip  her  cables  and  make  off  ^o  a  place  of  safety.  That  afternoon  a 
truce  was  declared,  which  contir.wed  until  eight  the  next  morning.  By 
that  time,  the  Americans  h:ul  assembled  in  sufficient  force  to  defeat  any 
landing  party  the  enemy  could  send  ashore.  The  bombardment  of  the 
town  continued  ;  but  the  aim  of  the  Hritish  was  so  inconceivably  poor, 
that,  during  the  three  days'  firing,  no  damage  was  done  by  their  shot. 
A  more  ludicrous  fiasci)  could  hardly  be  imagined,  and  the  Americans 
were  quick  to  see  the  comical  side  of  the  affair.  Before  departing,  the 
Hritish  fired  over  fifteen  tons  of  lead  and  iron  into  the  town.  A  cjuantity 
of  this  was  picked  up  by  the  Americans,  and  offered  for  sale.  In  a 
New  York  paper  appeared  the  advertisement,  — 


"just  rt.'ceivi.'(I.  and  olTcrod  for  salt',  ahout  three  tons  of  round  shot,  rnnsjstini,'  of 
six.  nine,  twelve,  eighteen,  Iwenty-fonr.  and  thirty-two  |)ounds  ;  very  handsome,  being 
a  small  projjortion  o(  those  wiiii  h  were  fired  from  His  Hrit;.  inie  Majesty's  ships  on 
the  uuoflending  inhabitants  of  Stoiiin>,ton,  in  the  recent  />n///ii/tf  MUick  on  that  plate. 
Likewise  a  few  carcasses,  in  good  uriler,  weighing  about  two  hundreil  poiinils  each. 
.Apply,"  etc. 


! 


A  popular  bard  of  the  time  set  forth  in  rollicking  verse  the  exploits  of 
the  Hritish  gunners  :  — 


-i  *^ 


BLUK-JACKKTS   OK    iSu. 


"Tlvjy  killed  a  goose,  they  killed  a  lion, 
Three  ho^s  they  wounded  in  a  pen; 
They  dashed  away,  —  and  pray  what  then? 
That  was  not  takiriu;  Stonington. 

"The  shells  were  thrown,  the  rot  kfts  llev,  ; 
IJut  not  a  shell  of  all  they  threw  — 
Though  every  house  was  full  in  view  — 
Could  burn  a  house  in  Stonintiton." 


3;.9 


With  this  affair,  in  which  the  Hritish  expended  ammunition  to  the  anioiiiit 
of  fifty  thousantl  dollars,  and  lost  twenty  men  killed  and  fifty  wounded, 
active  offensive  operations  alonj;  the  Connecticut  coast  ended.  I'arther 
north,  however,  the  British  still  raideil  towns  and  villaijes,  showini;  more 
spirit  in  their  attacks  than  did  Hardy  at  Stonin.ijton.  Eastport.  Me,, 
was  captured  in  July,  and  converted  into  a  veritable  British  colon  v.  Tlu- 
inhabitants  who  remained  in  the  town  were  forced  to  take  an  oath  of  alle- 
f:;iance  to  Great  Hntain  ;  fortifications  were  thrown  tip,  and  an  arsenal 
established;  Kin^-  (ieor<;e's  olTicials  were  placed  in  the  custom-house,  and 
thencef(jrward  imtil  the  end  of  the  war  the  town  was  virtuallv  British. 
I^ncoura|;eil  by  this  success,  the  enemy  undertook  a  more  difficidt  task. 
A  formidable  fleet  of  men-of-war  and  transports,  bearinj;  almost  ten  thou- 
sand troops,,  was  fitted  out  at  ll.ilifax  for  the  pm-pose  of  reducini;  to  British 
rule  all  that  part  of  Maine  lyinj;  l,»etween  I'assamaquoddy  Bay  and  the 
I'enob.scot  River.  This  expedition  set  sail  from  Ilalii'ax  on  tlv  J^th  of 
Au^tist,  boimd  for  Machias  ;  but  on  the  voyaj^e  down  the  coast  of  Maine 
the  brij;  "  kifleman  "  was  encountered,  and  from  her  the  jiresence  of  the 
United  States  corvette  "  Adams  "  in  the  Penobscot  River  was  learned.  It 
will  be  remetnbered  that  the  "Adams,"  before  enteriiiL;  the  river,  had  chased 
the  British  bri;;.  Upon  learnin;;-  this,  the  British  naval  commander,  Admiiid 
Griffiths,  pressed  forward  to  the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot,  and,  anchoring- 
there,  despatched  a  lanil  and  naval  expedition  up  the  river  for  the  capture 
of  the  corve'tc. 

When    the    news   of    this   advancing    force    reached    C'apt.    Tvlorris,    the 


340 


llIA'K-IACKl'.rS   OK    1S12. 


"Adams"  was  partially  out  of  water,  dismantled,  and  in  the  hands  of  the 
ship  carpenters,  who  were  repairinj^  tiie  injuries  she  hail  received  on 
the  rocks  off  Mount  Desert.  The  ship  herself  was  utterly  defenceless, 
but  Morris  made  strenuous  attempts  to  collect  a  land  force  to  defend  her. 
lie  mana,L;ed  to  rally  a  few  hundred  militia-men,  who,  with  tlic  sailors  and 
marines,  were  routed  by  the  enemy  on  the  night  of  the  3(1  of  Septeml)er. 
l-'indini;  that  the  enemy's  forces  were  not  to  be  driven  back  by  so  small  a 
body  of  men,  Morris  retreated,  hrst  setting  fire  to  the  corvette,  which  was 
totally  destroyed  before  the  British  came  up. 

The  retreating  sailors  were  then  forced  to  march  over  rugged  roads  to 
I'ortsmouth,  X.I  I.  ;  and,  as  walking  was  an  exercise  they  were  little  accus- 
tomed to,  many  suffered  severely  from  the  unusual  e.xertion.  The  difficulty 
of  getting  provisions  along  the  road  led  the  men  to  sejjarate  into  several 
parties  ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  opportunities  thus  afforded  for  ilesertion, 
all  who  were  not  broken  down  by  tlie  long  march  ultimately  reported  for 
duty  at  the  I'ortsmouth  navy-yard. 

Along  the  Southern  sea-board  the  course  of  the  war  was  even  more 
disastrous  to  tin-  Americans.  Intelligence  which  reached  the  national 
a.ilhorilies  in  the  s|)ring  of  1S14  led  them  to  believe  that  the  Jirilish  were 
planning  an  expedition  for  the  caplun;  of  Washington,  (irave  as  was  the 
danger,  the  authorities  were  slow  to  move;  and  though  in  July  the  (io\ern- 
ment  called  for  fifteen  thousand  troops,  and  gave  their  command  to  (ien. 
Winder,  vet  the  actual  defensive  force  about  the  national  capital  consisted 
of  but  a  few  hundred  militia.  The  naval  tlefence  was  intrusted  lo  the 
veter.m  Commodore  Harney,  who  had  ser\ed  with  distinction  in  the  ke\d- 
lutiiin,  and  during  the  early  years  of  the  second  war  with  (ireat  Hritain  had 
commanded  the  Baltimore  |)ri\aleer  "  Rossie."  The  force  put  under 
Barnev's  command  consisted  of  twent\-si\  gun-boats  and  barges,  manneil 
bv  nine  hundred  men.  C'hietly  by  his  own  energetic  exertions,  this  force 
w.is  ready  for  service  in  Aprd  ;  and  bv  June  the  crews  were  cbilljil  and 
ilisciplined,  a.nd  the  connnanders  schooled  in  the  tactics  of  scpiadron 
evolutions.  ( )n  the  isl  of  that  month  occurri-d.  the  first  brush  with  the 
enemy.     The  .\merican  llotilla  was  then  lying  in  Chesapeake  Hay,  a  little 


!' 


M 


i  I- 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  BARGES. 


! 


fir 


] 


I! 


H 


i! 


BLUE-JACKETS   OE    1812. 


343 


below  the  mouth  of  the  I'atuxent ;  and,  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  sc|uailnm 
cominj;  within  ranj^e,  Harney  ordered  out  his  forces  in  chase.  The  Hritish, 
outnumbered,  fled  down  the  bay;  but,  though  15arney  was  rapidly  over- 
hauling them,  he  saw  his  hopes  of  victory  shattered  by  the  sudden  appear- 
ance of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  seventy-four  gun  ship  "Dragon."  Thus 
re  enforced,  it  became  the  turn  of  the  British  to  pursue ;  and  the  Americans 
retreated,  firing  constantly  as  they  fled.  The  British  continuing  their 
advance.  Barney  was  forced  to  take  shelter  in  the  I'atuxent  River ;  and  he 
was  gradually  forced  up  that  stream  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  St.  Leonaril's 
Creek.  The  enemy  then,  feeling  certain  that  the  Americans  were  fairly 
entrapped,  anchored  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  awaited  re-enforcements. 
These  soon  arrived  ;  and  on  the  8th  of  the  month  the  enemy's  forces, 
consisting  of  a  frigate,  brig,  and  two  schooners,  moved  up  the  river  to 
the  mouth  of  the  creek.  Farther  they  could  not  go,  owing  to  shoal-water ; 
but  they  fitted  out  a  small  flotilla  of  barges,  and  sent  them  on  up  tlie  creek. 
With  this  enemy  Commodore  Barney  was  ready  to  come  to  close  cpiarters  ; 
and  he  moved  down  upon  the  British,  who  quickly  retreated  to  the  shelter 
of  their  ships.  Two  or  three  such  sham  attacks  were  made  by  the  enemy, 
but  not  until  the  loth  of  the  month  did  they  actually  give  battle  to  the 
Americans. 

On  the  morning  of  that  day  the  British  advanced  in  force  to  the  attack  ; 
and  the  peaceful  little  creek  was  ablaze  with  flags  and  bright  uniforms, 
and  the  wooded  shores  echoed  back  the  strains  of  martial  music.  Twenty- 
one  barges,  one  rocket-boat,  and  two  schooners  formed  the  Ihitish  column 
of  attack,  which  moved  grandly  up  the  creek,  with  the  bands  playing 
patriotic  airs,  and  the  sailors,  confident  of  victory,  cheering  lustily.  I'.ight 
hundred  men  followed  the  HriUsh  colors.  Against  this  force  liarney 
advanceil  with  but  five  hundred  sailors.  His  sloop  and  gun-vessels  lie 
left  at  anchor,  as  l)eing  too  unwieldy  for  the  narrow  si  oal-waters  ot  St. 
Leonard's  Creek;  and  he  met  the  enemy's  flotilla  with  but  thirtien  barges. 
The  en  my  opened  the  actio,:  at  long  range  with  rockets  ami  howitzers. 
The  former  were  terrible  missiles  in  an  action  of  this  character,  correspond- 
ing to  the  shells  of  modern  naval  warfare.     Some  idea  of  their  destruiiive- 


Hi 


344 


i'.LUi:-j.u:Ri:rs  ok  1812. 


ncss  may  be  derived  from  the  fact,  that  one  of  them,  fired  at  long  range, 
e.xploded  and  set  tire  to  a  boat,  after  having  first  passed  through  the  body 
of  one  of  her  crew.  JJarney  had  no  rockets;  and,  as  the  combat  at  long 
range  was  telling  upon  his  men,  he  at  once  dashed  forward  into  the  midst 
of  the  enemy.  Soon  the  barges  were  engaged  in  desperate  hand-to-hand 
conflicts.  The  sailors,  grappling  with  their  adversary's  craft,  fought  with 
pistol  and  cutlass  across  the  gunwales.  Harney,  in  a  small  barge  with 
twenty  men,  dashed  about,  now  striking  a  blow  in  aid  of  some  overmatched 
American  boat,  then  cheering  on  some  laggard,  or  api)lauding  some  deetl 
of  gallantry  that  occurred  in  his  sight.  Major  William  Barney,  son  of  the 
commodore,  saw  an  American  barge  on  fire,  and  deserted  by  her  crew  who 
feareil  the  explosion  of  her  magazine.  Running  his  boat  alongside,  he 
jumped  into  the  flaming  craft ;  and  by  dint  of  bailing  in  water,  and  rocking 
her  from  side  to  side,  he  succeeded  in  saving  the  barge,  l-'or  more  than  an 
hour  the  action  raged,  both  sides  fighting  with  great  vigor  and  gallantry; 
but  the  Americans  having  pierced  the  British  line,  the  enemy,  falling  into 
confusion,  turned,  and  strained  every  muscle  to  gain  the  protection  of 
their  ship's  guns.  The  Americans  followed  in  hot  pursuit  ;  but  their 
course  was  abruptly  checked  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek  by  a  British 
schooner,  whose  eighteen  guns  commanded  respect.  I''or  a  moment  the- 
pursuing  barges  fell  back  ;  then,  choosing  advantageous  positions,  they 
openeil  fire  U|)on  the  schooner  with  such  effect  that  she  socjn  turned  to 
escai)e.  She  succeeded  in  getting"  under  the  protecting  guns  of  the  frigate 
and  sloopof-war,  but  was  so  cut  to  pieces  in  the  short  action  that  she  was 
run  aground  and  abandoned.  The  larger  vess  -'s  now  opened  fire  ujxm 
Barney's  forces  ;  and  the  flotilla,  after  a  few  shots  of  tiefiance,  returned 
to  its  quarters  up  the  creek. 

For  the  next  two  weeks  all  was  cpiiet  along  the  shores  of  the  I'atu.xent 
and  St.  Leonard's  C^eek.  The  enemy  had  learned  wisdom  from  their 
late  defeat,  and  contented  themselves  with  blockading  the  mouth  of  the 
creek,  and  leaving  Barney  undisturbed  in  his  retreat.  But  the  doughty 
commodore  had  no  idea  of  being  thus  confined,  and  during  the  time  of 
quiet    niaile    i)reparations    foi'   an    attempt    to    break    the   blockade.      Land 


it 


BB 


MLUH-JACKKTS  ()I<    1812. 


545 


forces  from  \\a.shin<ftoii  were  sent  down  to  aid  in  tiiis  attempt  ;  and  two 
pieces  ot  artillery  were  to  be  mounted  on  a  hill  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek, 
and  thence  throw  red-hot  shot  into  the  enemy's  ships.  The  land  forces, 
however,  rendereil  not  the  slij;htest  assistance  ;  and  a  too  cautious  colonel 
posted  the  battery  at  such  a  point  that  no  shot  could  reach  the  enemy 
without  first  passinjj^  throuj;h  a  hill.  Accordingly,  when  Harney  led  his 
flotilla  i^allantly  down  to  the  attack,  he  f.)Uiul  that  the  issue  of  the  conflict 
rested  upon  the  sailors  alone.  From  ':he  battery,  which  was  e.\pected  to 
draw  the  enemy's  fire,  not  a  single  clfective  shot  was  fired.  The  sailors 
fought  nobly,  using  their  heavy  Icng  twelves  and  eighteens  with  great 
effect.  Hut  they  were  sadly  hampered  by  their  position  ;  for  the  mouth  of 
the  creek  was  so  narrow  that  but  eight  barges  could  lie  abreast,  and  the 
others  coming  down  from  above  soon  packed  the  little  stream  from  shore 
to  shore,  giving  the  enemy  a  mark  that  the  poorest  gunner  could  hardly 
miss.  Against  the  storm  of  grape  and  canister  that  the  British  poureil 
upon  them,  the  sailors  had  absolutely  no  protection.  The  barges  were 
without  bulwarks,  and  the  blue-jackets  at  the  guns  and  at  the  oars  were 
exposed  to  the  full  force  of  the  Hritish  fire.  Vet  in  this  exposed  situation 
the  gallant  fellows  kept  up  •;  fight  for  nearly  an  hour,  only  with- 
drawing when  the  last  ray  of  hope  for  help  from  the  shore  battery  had 
vanished.  Shortly  after  the  Americans  abandoned  the  attack,  the  blockad- 
ing squadron  got  under  way  and  stood  down  the  bay.  From  the  way  in 
which  one  of  the  frigates  was  working  her  pumps,  the  Americans  saw  that 
their  fire  hail  not  been  entirely  without  effect. 

liarney's  flotilla  had  now  given  the  liritish  so  much  trouble  that  they 
determined  to  destroy  it  without  delay  ;  and  an  expedition  of  more  than 
five  thousand  men  —  composed  of  regulars,  marines,  and  a  few  negroes 
—  was  carried  up  the  Patuxent,  and  landed  at  Henedict,  where  an  arme<l 
brig  had  been  stationed  to  cover  the  disembarkation.  It  was  early  dawn 
when  the  signal  to  land  was  given,  aiul  the  river  was  covered  in  an 
instant  with  a  well-manned  and  warlike  flotilla.  It  was  hard  work  for  the 
Biitish  sailors,  for  a  strong  current  was  running;  but  by  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  the  whole  army  was   landed,  and   encamped   in   a   strong 


I-    i 


Mfl 


>| 


••46 


BLUK-JACKKl'S  OF    1812. 


position  on  a  hill  overlooking  the  village.  Though  no  American  troops 
were  anywhere  in  the  vicinity,  the  landing  was  conducted  with  the  utmost 
caution.  As  the  prow  of  each  boat  grated  on  the  sand,  the  soUliers 
leaped  on  the  beach,  and  instantly  drew  up  in  line,  ready  to  repel  any 
attack.  After  the  infantry  was  landed,  about  a  hundred  artillerymen 
followed,  and  the  same  number  of  sailors  dragging  howitzers. 

It  is  easily  understood  that  this  powerful  force  was  not  organized  solely 
to  destroy  Harney's  pitiful  little  flotilla.  The  real  purpose  of  the  Hritish 
commander  was  to  press  on  into  the  interior,  and  capture  Washington, 
which  the  Americans  had  foolishly  left  without  any  defences  whatever. 
It  came  to  Harney's  ears  that  Admiral  Cockburn  had  boasted  that  he 
would  destroy  the  American  flotilla,  and  dine  in  Washington  the  following 
Sunday.  This  news  the  American  commodore  sent  off  to  the  authorities 
at  the  capital,  and  they  then  began  to  make  futile  preparations  to  repel 
the  invader.  In  the  mean  time  the  Hritish  commenced  their  march  uj)  the 
shores  of  the  I'atu.xent,  meeting  with  no  opposition.  Harney,  knowing 
that  the  defence  of  the  national  capital  was  of  far  greater  importance  than 
the  fate  of  his  flotilla,  landed  with  four  hundred  men,  and  hastened  to  the 
American  lines  before  Washington.  lie  left  the  barges  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  second  lieutenant,  Mr.  I'razier,  with  instructions  to  set  fire 
to  every  boat  on  the  appearance  of  the  enemy,  and  then  join  the  com- 
modore with  all  the  men  left  under  his  charge.  Accordingly,  when  the 
invading  column  reached  Nottingham,  Mr.  I-'razier  took  the  flotilla  still 
higher  up  the  creek, — a  move  that  vastly  disconcerted  the  Hritish.  who 
saw  their  prey  eluding  them.  "Hut  in  the  main  object  of  our  pursuit  we 
were  disapjiointed,"  wrote  a  Hritish  officer.  "The  flotilla  which  had  been 
stationed  o|)posite  to  Nottingham  retired,  on  our  approach,  higher  up  the 
stream  ;  and  we  were  C()nsei|uently  in  the  situation  of  a  huntsman  who 
sees  his  hounds  at  fault,  and  has  every  reason  to  apjirehend  that  his  game 
will  escape."  Hut  the  game  never  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  ardent 
hunters;  lor  the  next  day  Mr.  I-'razier  fulfilled  bis  orders  by  setting  fue 
to  every  barge,  and,  after  seeing  several  of  the  larger  boats  blow  up, 
mustered  his  men,  and  cut  across  the  country,  to  join  his  superior  officer. 


Hi,ri:-j.\cKi"rs  oi-   iSis. 


34; 


The  liritish  navoi  forces  soon  after  reaehed  Pig  Point,  the  scene  of  this 
destruction,  and  there  remained  ;  while  the  hind  forces  immediately  turned 
away  from  the  river,  and  marched  upon  Washin-^ton. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  give  in  tletail  the  incidents  of  the  series  of 
skirmishes  by  which  the  liritish  fought  their  way  to  the  American  capital. 
They  were  ui)posed  by  raw  militia,  and  the  few  sailors  and  marines  under 


Si 


.♦^ 


^u 


-■V'-^A. 


SIlARrSHOOTERS. 


Barney.  The  former  fled  with  ])romptitude  at  the  very  first  fire,  but 
the  sailors  and  marines  fought  gallantly.  The  fighting  was  sharpest  at 
liladensburg ;  antl  here  l^arney's  Idue-jackets  wmi  praise  from  everybody, 
even  frnin  the  enemy  whose  advance  they  disputed.  Harney  himselt  led 
the  Americans,  and  sighted  a  favorite  gun  of  the  sailors'  battery,  until 
he  fell  desperately  wounded.  This  battery  commanded  the  road  by  which 
the  main  column  of  British  advanced  ;  and  by  its  hail  of  grape  and  canister 
it  beat  back  the  advancing  regiments,  and  for  some  time  checked  their 
further  progress.     The   British    thereupon    opened  with    loekets,  and   sent 


tm 


M' 


li 


34« 


i!i.ri;-i.\(Ki;is  oi-  isi^. 


out  sliarp-shuotcrs  to  pick  off  tin-  \';inkcc  j;uniK'is.  Oik-  of  these  riflemen 
was  observed  by  tiie  Americans  to  ileliijerately  build  lor  himself  a  small 
redoubt  of  stones  from  an  old  wall  ;  and,  ly'n^  down  behind  it,  he  be;;an 
a  deliberate  fire  upon  the  Americans.  His  hrs;  bullet  went  throuj^h  the 
cap  of  one  of  the  sailors,  anil  the  second  sent  a  poor  fellow  to  his  lonj; 
account.  The  marines  answered  with  their  muskets;  but  the  fellow's 
stone  rampart  saved  him,  and  he  continued  his  hre.  liarney  vowed  to 
put  an  end  to  that  affair,  and,  carefully  sightinj;  one  of  his  cannon,  pulled 
the  lanyard.  The  heavy  round  shot  was  seen  to  strike  the  sharp-shooter's 
ilefence,  and  stones  and  man  disappeared  in  a  cloud  of  dust.  Meantime, 
the  enemy  had  thrown  out  fiankinj^  parties  under  cover  of  the  woods,  and 
had  nearly  surrounded  the  little  band  of  sailors.  A  musket-ball  struck 
Harney  in  the  thij;h,  and  he  bej^an  to  ^row  faint  with  loss  of  blood  ;  and, 
finding;"  that  the  militia  had  Heil,  and  the  sailors  were  becoming;  exhausted, 
the  commodore  ordered  a  retreat.  The  blue-jackets  left  the  field  in  good 
order ;  but  their  gallant  commander  had  gone  but  a  few  steps,  when 
the  pain  of  his  wound  forcetl  him  to  lie  down  under  a  tree,  and  await  the 
coming  of  the  enemy.  The  Hritish  soon  came  up,  led  by  (ieii.  Ross  and 
Capt.  Wainwright  of  the  navy.  After  learning  Harney's  rank,  and  courte- 
ously offering  to  secure  surgical  aitl,  the  general  turned  to  his  companion, 
and,  speaking  of  the  stubborn  resistance  made  by  the  battery,  saitl,  "  I 
told  you  it  was  the  flotilla  men."  —  "Yes.  You  were  right,  thttugh  I  could 
not  believe  you,"  was  the  response.  "  They  have  given  us  the  only  fight- 
ing we  have  had." 

Meanwhile,  the  liritish,  having  routed  the  Americans  at  every  point, 
pressed  on  to  Washington.  The  inhabitants  ffed  before  them,  and  the  town 
was  almost  deserted  when  the  Hritish  marched  in  with  banners  flying  anil 
bands  jilaying.  The  enemy  held  the  city  for  only  a  day  ;  but  in  that  time 
they  did  such  deeds  of  vandalism,  that  even  the  people  and  the  press  of 
London  cried  out  in  indignation.  The  President's  house,  the  Capitol,  all 
the  public  buildings  except  the  Talent  ( )fTice,  were  burned  to  the  ground. 
The  navv-yard,  with  the  uncompleted  ships  on  the  stocks,  was  likewise 
burned  ;  but  in  this  the  enemy  only  acted  in  accordance  with  the  rules  of 


JiLUK-JA(Ki:iS   or    iSi2. 


349 


war.  It  was  their  destruction  of  llic  |iiil)iic  buil'lin-is,  the  national  arcliives, 
and  the  Cont^ressional  library,  that  aroused  the  wrathful  indi-;nation  of  all 
fair-minded  people,  whether  Americans    or   Europeans.     "  Willingly,"  said 


.z ''■/-< 


/'// 


'I' 


"'^; 


nil-,  MAkrn  on  w.\>Hisor<)N, 

one  London  newspajjer,  "would  we  throw  a  veil  of  oblivion  ove  ■  our  trans- 
actions at  Washington.  The  Cossacks  spared  Paris,  but  ve  spared  not 
the  capital  of  America."  A  second  luiglish  journal  fitly  denounced  the 
proceedings  as  "a  return  to  the  times  of  barbarism." 

But,  if  the  invaders  arc  rightly  to  be  blamed  for  the  useless  vandalism 


I 


i 


350 


iii,ii;-j.\('Ki:r.s  ok  isia. 


they  cncoura;;c(l,  the  American  autlioiities  are  still  more  eiil|>al)le  for  tiieir 
nej^lect  of  the  most  ordinary  precautions  of  war.  'I"hat  a  national  capital, 
close  to  tlie  sea,  slioiihl  !)e  left  virtually  unprotected  while  the  enemy  was 
massing  his  forces  only  a  few  miles  away,  seems  almost  unbelievable.  Hut 
so  it  was  with  \\'ashinj;ton ;  for  five  hundred  flotilla  men  were  forced  to  hear 
the  brunt  of  the  attack  of  five  thousand  Hritish.  True  it  is  that  the  mili- 
tary authorities  had  massed  seven  thousand  militia-men  for  the  defence  of 
the  city;  but  such  was  the  trepidation  of  these  untrained  soldiers,  that  they 
fled  before  the  main  body  of  the  liritish  had  come  into  the  fi^cht.  That 
the  sailors  and  marines  fou<;ht  bravely,  we  have  the  testimony  of  the 
British  themselves.  Mr.  (ilei;;,  a  subaltern  in  the  attackinj,^  army,  writes, 
"Of  the  sailors,  however,  it  would  be  injustice  not  to  speak  in  the  terms 
which  their  conduct  merits.  They  were  employed  as  j;unners  ;  aiul  not 
only  did  they  serve  their  j;uns  "ith  a  quickness  and  precision  which 
astonished  their  assailants,  l)ut  they  stood  till  some  of  them  were  actually 
bayonneted  with  fuses  in  their  bands ;  nor  was  it  till  their  leader  was 
wounded  and  taken,  and  they  saw  themselves  deserted  on  all  sides  by  the 
soldiers,  that  they  cpiitted  the  field."  Therefore,  in  the  battle  of  liladens- 
burj;,  the  blue-jackets  won  11  Uhinj;  but  honor,  thou<;h  the  results  of  the 
battle  were  so  mortifying  to  the  national  pride  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States. 

On  the  25th  of  August  the  Hritish  left  the  smokinij  ruins  of  Washiii,i;ton 
behind  them,  and  made  for  their  fleet  lyinj;  in  the  I'atu.xent.  They  feared 
that  the  outraged  nation  would  rise  upon  them,  and  turn  their  march  into 
a  bU)ody  retreat,  like  that  of  the  l^ritish  soldiery  from  the  historic  field  of 
Lexington.  Accordingly  their  departure  was  by  night,  immediately  after 
a  furious  storm  of  rain  and  wind.  Strict  orders  were  issued  to  all  the 
Americans  in  Washington,  warning  them,  under  penalty  of  death,  not  to 
lea\e  their  houses  until  the  sun  rose  the  ne.vt  morning.  Then  the  liritish 
stealthily  marched  out  of  the  town.  "  No  man  sjxjke  above  his  breath," 
says  subaltern  (ileig.  "Our  \ery  steps  were  i)lanted  lightly,  and  we 
cleared  the  town  without  exciting  observation."  A  two  days'  march 
brought  them  to  Benedict,  where  the  fleet  lay  in  waiting  for  their  reception. 


I- 


THE    BURNING   OF    WASHINGTON. 


n 


r.i,ri:-i.\(Ki:rs  oi'  i.su. 


>>.■>.> 


Ill  llic  nu'an  tinio,  a  iiortinii  of  llu'  Hritish  tli'i't  liad  aM'ciKii-d  tlu- 
I'otniiiac  as  lar  as  ,\K'.\aii(iria,  ami,  rmdiii:;  lliat  tnwii  ik'lciu'ck-ss,  \nn- 
ccc<!(.'i!  t(»  (lii'tati.-  to  iIa  iiiliahitants  tlir  tcini>  ii|iiiii  whicli  tlu'v  rniiid 
save  tlicir  villaj^c  liom  dc^dlatioii,  Tlir  lirili^h  ik'maiidi'd  il.at  all  na\al 
stores  and  oninaiuc,  all  tin-  shijiiiin^;  and  it>  l"innilui\',  all  nicii  hantli.^e, 
and  all  provisions  in  tlu-  town  shonld  hr  >uinniUri.'d.  Scmm- d  vessels  had 
been  scuttled,  to  prevent  their  falling;  into  ilu'  hand-  o|  the  rnein\  ;  these, 
the  British  demanded,  should  he  rai>ed,  ixpai:  'd,  a  -d  (Kli\ered  to  then). 
Time,  however,  did  not  permit  the  I'ultilment  ol'  this  eondU'ou  ;  hul  to  the 
others,  harsh  and  h  i.n'.IiatinL;  thou-h  thev  were,  the  inh.d)itant->  were 
foreed  to  aeeede.  lleav  y  laden  with  the  spoils  ol  the  \  illa-e,  the  pilla,:;ers 
weighed  aiuhor  and  started  down  the  rotonia'-.  lint  thev  were  not 
destined  to  earry  aw.iy  their  booty  unmolested  News  o|  the  e.\pediti(Mi 
readied  Baltimore,  and  a  lar^e  party  ol  the  sailors  at  the  nav\-yar<l  were 
sent  to  the  hanks  ol  the  I'otomae  to  <.  ut  oil  the  enemv's  retreat.  riie\- 
were  officered  by  lour  im-ii  famous  in  Ameriean  naval  annaU, —  I'errv, 
Kodj;ers,  IV-rter,  and  ("reiL;hton.  At  Indian  lie. id,  ju-l  below  Mount 
Vernon,  the  I'otom.ie  Ki\er  n,irrow>  and  tlow>  swit!ly  between  den>i'l\ 
woodetl  bhilTs,  At  this  point  the  Ameiiians  threw  up  ledoubt-.  :ind, 
mounting;  all  the  eanui'ii  th. It  lould  be  L;i*herid  on  sueh  short  notiee,  pre- 
j)ared  to  dispute  the  enemv's  |)assam'.  When  tlu'  British  Meet  ho\e  in 
si;;ht,  they  wi're  greeted  with  a  storm  ol  shot  hum  tln'  uususpi,  t^d 
b.illeries;  and  thev  recoiled  in  confusion.  Practised  Anu'rican  hunters 
lined  the  woody  shores,  and  pii'ked  oil  the  British  sailors  with  nniski't- 
buli.-  I'or  some  time  the  lleel  was  t  luis  I  heeked  in  its  pio-ress.  i-iualK- 
'he  admiral  determined  that  oul\  by  a  bold  d.isli  vmlil  In-  ese.ipe  ;  and 
:iccordin;;ly,  massing  his  vessels  and  com  enliatinL;  his  tin-  on  the  thief 
b.'ittery,  he  d.ished  past,  and  rejoined  his  supuior  oiVici'i-,  I'oikburn,  not 
without  jiayin^  deaily  for  his  exploit  at   Alexandria. 

While  the  British  were  thus  deva.-t.itiiiL;  the  shores  of  {'hes.ipeakc 
Bay,  they  east  more  than  one  loii;;in^'  look  low.ird  the  thrivinn  city  of 
lialtimore,  which,  b\-  its  violent  patriotism  had  done  much  to  ur;;e  on 
tile  war.      l-'roni    the    .ship-yards  ot    li.dtimorc    e.mie    more    than  one  .stout 


! 


!( 


y 


;54 


in,i'r:-i.u'Ki:is  of  isis. 


naval  vessel  that  had  forcod  the  enemy  to  hanl  down  his  colors.  Hut 
that  whieh  more  than  any  thin;;-  else  aroused  the  hatred  of  the  l^ritish 
wa.s  tlie  siiare  Baltimore  took  in  fitting  out  and  manninj;-  tiiose  swift 
privateers,  concerning'  whose  depredations  ui)on  British  commerce  we  shall 
ha\e  sometliin;;-  to  say  in  a  later  chapter.  "  It  is  a  doomed  town,"  said 
X'iceadmiral  Warren.  "The  truculent  inhabitants  of  Haltimore  must  i)e 
tamed  with  the  weapons  which  shook  the  wooden  turrets  of  Copen- 
hagen," cried  the  editor  ol   a 


'•■•r>^  ..,      .  .  .^ ^     - 

;rea1  London  paper.  Hut, 
nc\eitlirless,  Haltimore  did 
lint  fall  hel'ore  the  invader, 
altliou;j,h  li)i"  some  time  the 
arm\-  and  nav\-  of  the  eni'mv 
were  united  in  the  attempt 
to  hriuL;'  desolation  upon  the 
ohno.xious  lily.  After  the 
fall  of  Washington,  the  dep- 
redations of  the  Hritish  alor.;;' 
the  shores  of  ("hesapcake 
Hay  redouhled,  and  the  ma- 
rauding;- expeditions  thus  em- 
ployed were  really  feelers 
thrown  out  to  test  the 
That    the    marauders  found  some 


imown  oiH  lo  u'.si  inc 
stri-n^th  ol  the  defences  of  Haltimore.  That  the  marauders  found  some 
op|ii)sitiou,  is  e\ident  fnuu  a  passage  in  tlie  journal  of  a  Hritisii  ol'dcer. 
"  Hut  tluse  hasty  e.\i-ursions,  thouL;h  i^enerallv  successful,  were  not  always 
perlormed  without  loss  to  the  invaders."  ( )n  one  of  these  expeditions, 
.Sir  IV'ti-r  i'arker,  captain  of  tlu-  frii^ale  "  Meiielaiis,"  lost  his  lifi-.  He 
had  hei'i)  ordered  down  to  the  mouth  of  tlu-  hav  just  after  the  fall  of 
Washinj;ton.      "I    must    first    have    a    frolic    wilii    the    N'ankees,"    said    he. 


.Sir    I'l'ti-r    i'arker,  captain    ...    ...v 

had  hei'i)  ordered  down  to  the  moiiin  oi  iiu-  nav  Jum  aiier  me  lan  oi 
Washinj;ton.  "I  must  liist  have  a  frolic  wilii  the  N'ankees,"  said  he. 
And  accordinj;ly,  after  a  jovial  ilinncr  aboard  his  fri|;ate,  he  led  a  iii;;ht 
expedition  of  sailors  and  marines  ashore,  expeclinic  to  surjjrise  a  small 
body  o{  Maryland  luilitia  stationed  at  Moorfields.     Sir  Peter's  frolic  turned 


1 


I 


MMM 


1 


i!Lri:-i.\('Ki;i's  of  1812. 


;>55 


* 


(Hit  clisastnnislv ;  for  the  Marylandcrs  wi-rc  mi  tlic  watch,  and  received 
the  invaders  witii  a  tieree  volley.  Sir  I'eler  was  L;'allantly  eheerini;-  im 
his  men,  when  a  nuisket-hall  ent  the  main  artery  in  his  thii;h.  "They 
have  hit  me,  I'earce,"  he  said  iaintly  tn  his  lieutenant;  "hut  it's  mithinn-. 
I'ush  on,  mv  brave  hoys,  and  follow  me."  Hut  even  thus  eheerin;;-.  he  fell 
hack,  the  words  died  away  in  his  thri>at,  and  he  bled  to  death  before  a 
surf^eon  eould  be  found.  It  is  but  riL;ht  to  say,  that,  thou;;h  he  sailed 
in  {."oekbiuii's  eonunand,  he  had  none  of  the  cruel  brutality  which  his 
admiral  too  often  showed. 

On  the  iJth  of  September  a  more  serious  assault  was  made  upon 
Baltimore.  The  British  naval  ^uid  military  forces  united  in  the  attack. 
which  was  ma<le  by  land  and  sea.  A  foice  of  nine  thousand  men.  includ- 
inj;  two  thousand  marines  and  two  thousand  sailors,  was  landed  liftei'U 
mi'es  from  Baltimore,  and  under  the  command  of  l'n:u.  Ross  and  Adniiial 
Cockburn  marched  ^ayly  iidand,  never  doubting-  that  they  would  find  llu- 
Americans  unprepared,  and  repeat  theii'  esploits  at  \\'ashin,:;ton.  In  this 
expectation  they  were  sadly  disappointed  ;  for  the  Maryland  militia,  aided 
by  a  lew  rej;ulars  and  sevimen,  ()utfouj.;ht  the  iiritish  at  every  point,  and 
checked  their  farther  advance.  Amon^^  the  slain  was  (ien.  Ross,  who 
was  shot  down  as  he  was  leading;  the  advance  of  the  Brilisii  skirmishers. 
In  the  mean  time,  tin-  British  fleet  had  been  lakinj;-  its  .share  in  the 
en};a};emenv  by  attempting  to  reduce  i'"ort  Mcllenry.  A  lar-e  tlotilla  of 
frij;ates,  sciiooners,  sloops,  and  bondvkeV  hes  entered  the  rala])sco  River 
on  the  njornin^-  of  the  inth,  and,  caslini;-  anchor  out  ol  ih.;  reach  oi 
the  fort's  nuns,  opened  a  furious  tire.  The  fort  was  manned  by  militia- 
men and  a  lari;e  detachment  of  the  ijjallant  sailors  from  Barney's  tlotilla. 
When  the  continual  falling;-  of  shells  within  the  fort  told  that  the  enemy 
had  come  within  ran^e,  the  ^uns  of  i-'ort  Mcllenry  opened  in  response. 
But,  to  the  intense  cha;;rin  of  the  Americans,  it  was  found  that  their  works 
mounted  nut  a  sin;;le  ^un  that  would  carry  to  the  enemy's  Meet.  There 
then  remained  to  the  <;;arrison  only  the  tryin^^  duty  of  holding-  iheir  post, 
and  enduring  without  response  a  ^alliuL;  fire  from  the  enemy.  All  the 
garrison  stood  to  the    yuns  without  flinching;    while  the  shrieking    shells 


I 


1  .  i. 


i'S 


;     i 


in. 


j.i 


f«i 


350 


i{|,ri;-i.\(  Ki.is  01    isij. 


I'l'll  nil  all  .sidi's,  .111(1,  (.•xpliidin,:;,  ^c.ilU'ix'il  ;!i';iilly  missiles  in  ;ill  diri-cliinis. 
(  >iK'  mIu'11  striuk  ;m(l  (li^^mclllllt^•ll  oiu-  dl  ilu-  IwciUy-tonr-poiiiKk-rs,  killiii:;- 
and  uiiundiii.:;  sL'\craI  nt'  its  iiKii.  Admiral  ("iHliiaMc,  uhu  lommaiidcd  t!u' 
altai'kiiiL;  iKit,  saw  lliis  iiuidciit,  and  ordcii'd  tliici'  nt  his  hnmbv  r>sfl> 
ti>mii\f  u|i  nearer  Id  the  Inii.  This  i;av(.'  the  Amt'iii^uis  the  ii|i|i(irtunit\ 
t'lir  whitli  they  had  heeii  loii.^ini;,  and  instantly  eveiv  nun  in  the  loit 
opened  U|)i>n  the  three  liukless  ketehes.  Half  an  h<inr  nl  this  tire 
siitTued   to   dri\e   the   three   \^•s^eI^.   haik   to   iheii    t)ri,i;inal   station. 

Nij^lit  tell,  hut  l)ioiiL;lit  no  cessation  ot'  th  '.«iml)ardnient.  lUit  the 
enemy,  while  never  sl.ii  kenini;  his  lirj,  had  determined  to  take  ail\antaL;e 
ot  iIk  darkness  to  si'rid  out  a  landini;  |).irtv  to  take  two  sm.ill  li.itteries 
on  the  h.mks  of  the  I'.itapseo,  aiid  tlien  assault  l'"ort  Milli-nrv  from  tlu' 
rear.  TweKe  hundred  anil  fill\  men,  with  sealinj;-Iaddors  and  f.isiines, 
lift  the  lleet  in  i)ar-es,  .mil  moved  up  the  I'atapseo  tow.ards  l-'ort  Covini^- 
ton  and  the  City  IS.itterv.  Hut  theii'  pl.in,  thouj;h  well  laid,  was  dele.iled 
by  t!ie  \iL;ilanee  and  eour.i-e  of  the  garrisons  of  the  twn  thri'alene.l 
positions,  —  sailors  all,  and  m.in\  of  tlu-m  mei\  from  H.irney's  lloiiH.i,  a 
tr,nnin.i;sehool  whieh  seem>  to  h.Uf  ,:;iven  to  the  reL;ioii  about  Cliesapeake 
15. i\  its  most  L;.dl.int  defenders,  jusi  as  tlu-  storming'  partv  turned  the 
plows  of  the  b,ir,L;es  tou.irds  the  shore,  thev  were  discovered;  and  from 
Mellenr\,  t"o\  in,L;ton,  and  the  (itv  Hatterv  burst  .1  thumlerous  artiller\- 
tiri',  th.it  .-hoiik  the  house-,  in  H.dtimore.  and  illumiui'd  the  ilark  sh'ues 
of  the  ri\er  with  ,1  huid  .nlare.  Hold  as  the  Ihilish  sailors  were,  thi'V 
eould  ,id\.iiu'e  no  t.irther  under  so  terrible  a  tire.  Two  of  the  bai',:;es 
were  shot  to  piei'es,  leaxiui;  the'.r  erews  strui^L^lin^  in  the  watc'r.  .\ 
ceaseless  h.dl  of  i^rape  .nul  «. mister  spre.id  death  and  wounds  broadc.isi 
iinmni;'  the  enenu  ;  and,  aftei'  w.iverini;  .1  moment,  thev  tinau'd  and  lied 
to  their  ships.  I  oehr.me,  seeiuL;  his  pi.ui  for  taking  the  American  positions 
by  ass.iiilt  thus  frustrati'd,  redoubled  the  fury  of  his  lire;  hoping;  th.it, 
when  d.i)  bri'.ik  m.ide  visible  the  distant  shore,  nothim;  but  ,1  heap  of  ruins 
slioiild  mark  the  spot   where   l'"ort    Mil  km  y  stood  the  ni^du    l)el()re. 

A  ni^ht  boinb.irdnieiit  is  ,it  once  a  beautiful  and  a  terrible  spectacle. 
I'he  ce.iseless  iLishiMji;  of    the  j;real   ;;uiis,   lii^liting    up  with  a  lurid    glare 


'>fc/»^fsmj^l:rM^ 


THE  STAR  SPANGLED  UANNhK. 


■    ;■ 


l|  I 


mem 


HI.UK-JACKKI'S   OF    iSu. 


359 


J       : 


the  dense  clouds  of  smoke  that  han<;  over  the  sieiie  of  hattli-  ;  tho  roar 
of  the  artillery;  the  shriek  of  the  shell  as  it  leaves  the  cannon's  mouth, 
slowly  dying  into  a  mnrmu>-  and  a  dull  explosion,  as,  with  a  flash  of  fire, 
the  missile  explodes  far  away,  —  combine  to  form  a  picture,  that,  des|)ite 
the  horrors  of  wounds  and  death,  rouses  the  enthusiasm  and  admiration 
of  the  beholder.  When  viewed  from  the  deck  of  one  of  an  atlackinj; 
fleet,  the  scene  is  even  more  impressive.  At  each  discharge  of  the  great 
guns,  the  vessel  reels  and  trembles  like  a  huge  animal  in  agony.  Tlie 
surging  waters  alongside  reflect  in  their  black  depths  the  Hash  of  the 
cannon  ai\d  the  lierv  trail  of  the  living  shell,  l'"ar  in  the  distance  can 
be  seen  the  flashes  of  the  enemy's  guns,  each  of  which  may  mean  the 
despatch  of  a  missile  bringing  death  and  pain  in  its  track.  ( )iu-  who 
has  witnessed  such  a  spectacle  can  reatlily  understand  the  fascination  which 
men   find  in  the  great  game  of  war. 

Pacing  the  deck  of  the  one  of  the  Hritish  vessels  was  a  yoimg  Aniorican, 
whose  tem|)erament  was  such  that  lie  could  fully  appreciate  all  the  beauties 
of  the  scene,  even  though  harasseil  by  anxious  fears  lest  the  l?ritish  should 
be  successful.  This  man  was  iMancis  .S.  Key,  who  had  '.isitcd  the  licet 
with  a  flag  of  truce,  but  was  unable  to  get  away  bct'nn'  the  bninb.irdnient 
began  When  the  sun  set  on  the  evening  of  the  i.Uh,  Key  saw  his 
country's  flag  waving  proudly  ovir  the  ram])arts  at  which  the  l^riti.sh  guns 
had  been  so  furiously  pounding,  Woidd  that  flag  still  be  there  when  the 
sun  should  rise  again?  That  was  the  question  which  Key  asked  himself 
as  he  anxiously  walked  the  deck  throughout  the  night,  stri\ing  to  piiTcc 
the  darkness,  and  make  nut,  bv  the  lurid  lightnings  of  the  cannon, 
whether  the  flag  was  still  there.  .As  the  iiiglit  wow  on,  Key  took  an  old 
letter  from  his  pocki't,  and  on  the  blank  sheet  jotted  down  thr  lines  of 
the  immortal  national  song.  "The  .Star  .Spangled  lianner."  Its  wonks 
merely  voice  the  writer's  thoughts;  for  often  during  that  night  he  'ooked 
anxiously  shorewards,  to  see  if 


"the  rockets'  red  j;l:ire,  the  bombs  hurstiiiK  in  .lir, 
Gave  proof,  tliri)ii),'h  the  night,  tliat  our  ll.i);  w.i.s  .s»ill  there." 


;,()«) 


i;i.i  i:-l.\(Ki;is  or  isi-. 


When  tin-  anxiously  awaiti-d  (laylij^lit  caiiu-,  l*'ort  Mil  Icniy  still  stood; 
and  ovlt  it  waxed  defiantly  the  starry  folds  of  the  I'nited  Slates  tla;;". 
The  Ihitish  saw  that,  hy  land  ant!  sea,  tiieir  attaek  had  faileil  ;  and  early 
in  the  niorninf;  the  lleet.  after  taking  on  Ijoard  the  remnant  of  f;he  land 
forces,  sailed  suddcidy  away,  and  left  Halliniore  safe.  They  had  homliarded 
l''ort  I\IeI  lenry  for  twenty-live  hours,  throwin;;  nearly  two  tliousand  shells. 
Vet,  wonderful  as  it  may  appiar,  only  four  of  the  y\niericans  were  killed, 
and  twenty-four  wounded.  With  this  failure  the  Hritish  endeil  their  ehief 
offensive  operations  alon;;  the  shores  ot  the  Chesapeake.  The  ;;reater 
part  of  the  Heel  and  the  soldiery  then  moved  soutinvard,  lo  lake  |)aM  in 
the  operations  alon;;  the  (iulf  masi,  that  eulminatcd  in  the  disastrous 
tiefeat  of  the  invaders  al   New  ( )rleans. 


II  I  'i 


■    !. 


CIlAlTl'.k     XVI. 


l>i;>ir.l(lKV  ilKSTII.IIII  >  ON  1111.  (M  I  \N,  -  \1  TAl  k  II'dN  inKT  lie  iWVKR.  -  1.  \1  11  1 1.  i||K 
riKAII  IlKlllSIl  lAl'l  lillluN  A(..\lN>r  NKW  ()KI.|;A\>.  -  liA  11 1.1.  A 1'  llll.  KICl  »1  K|S. - 
All  \<  k   (IN   NI.W  UKI  I-  \NS,  ASH    hKII  .\  I   <)I    Till-.  liRI  ll>ll.       WoKk  nV  TIIK  niX'K-j.VC  KKTS. 

-  t  AiTiki,  oi   I  III.  I  KicAi  1.  ••  rki  sinKN  I'."  -  Tin:  ••  i  unmi  rrrinN  •  takivs  tiik  "i  vani;- 

ANiP   ••I.K.VANr.'-llll.   "IIiikM  I"    lAkKS    IIIK  •'  I'KNCLIN  "  -  l-.Mt   ol     llll:   WAU. 


I 


I  lie  naval  iiuidcnt.s  of  the  latter  part  of  1S14  tonftrred  little 
honor  upon  cither  of  the  bellit;erent.s.  Seldom  did  the  nieetin;;s 
between  hostile  ships  rise  to  the  difjnity  of  battles.  ( )tie  or  two 
small  American  bri};s  fell  a  prey  l'>  British  fri};ates  ;  Init  in  every 
instance  the  disparity  of  force  was  so  _i;rcat  that  the  weaker  Mirri'iidcrcd 
without  strikinj;  a  blow.  Such  was  tlie  case  with  the  si.xtccn-^uii  lnii; 
"  Rattlesnake,"  which  escaped  from  oiu'  British  frigate  by  throwin:;  ii\ir- 
board  all  her  };uns.  only  to  immediately  f:dl  a  prey  to  the  "  I.eandcr."  In 
July  of  the  same  year,  the  I'nited  States  bri^  "Siren"  was  ca|)turc(l  by 
the  British  friijate  "  Mcdway,"  ott  the  coast  of  Africa,  alter  a  lon^  chase, 
durinj;  which  the  Ami'rican  how  overboard  every  thin^'  movable  on  the 
bri(^.  Not  all  these  j)etly  encounters  ended  so  favorably  for  the  enemy. 
Off  New  York  a  cuttinj.;-out  party  of  volunteers  surprised  an<l  laptured 
the    British    tender  "  b.aj^le,"  a   small   craft   carryinj;    cjiie   thirty-two-pound 


I 


i  '^ 


■  I 


3'>-' 


iu,ri;-j.\(Ki;rs  oi'  isii. 


h()\vit/cr,  and  fourteen  nu-n.  'l\n  days  later,  the  fii^'ate  "TenedDs,"  whiih 
had  done  siiili  >:;iun\  service  nu  tlie  Ijloekade,  suffered  the  loss  of  her 
tender,  which  was  {gallantly  carried  away  hy  the  erew  of  a  \'ankee  ;;unboat. 
Some  very  desperate  combats  between  American  |)rivateers  and  Hritish 
na\al  vessels  were  fouj^ht  about  this  time,  and  will  l)e  duly  noteil  in  detail 
in  the  chapter  treatin;^  of  the  exploits  of  the  private  armed   navy. 

As  the  autumn  came  on,  the  Mritish  naval  forces  be;;an  to  rendezvous 
in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  preparatory  to  the  cam|iai},ni  before  New  Orleans, 
(^n  Sept.  14,  a  scpiadron  of  four  Hritish  sloops-of-war  appeared  off  Mobile, 
and  opened  lire  upon  j-'ort  l^iwyer,  which  ".juarded  the  entrance  to  Mo- 
bile  Hay.  Tlie  attack  was  vigorous,  and  the  defence  determined.  A 
Hritish  land  expedition  moved  upon  the  fort  from  the  landward  side;  and 
the  little  garrison  found  itself  surrounded  by  enemies,  many  of  whom  were 
Indians,  whose  sava;;e  assistance  the  Hritish  had  acicpti'd  from  the  very 
openin;;  of  the  war.  .\  small  force,  oidy,  defended  the  fort.  I'ercy,  the 
Hritish  admiral,  knew  tin-  weakness  of  the  j;ariison  ;  and,  thinking;  of 
the  ninety-two  j^uns  he  could  l)rin;;  to  bear  against  tin:  twenty  worked 
by  the  Ameriiaus,  annouuted  proudly,  thai  lu-  would  };ive  the  garrison 
just  twenty  ndnutcs  to  surrender,  'ihe  twenty  minuli's  passed  (luickly, 
and  still  the  fort  responded  savaj^ely  to  tlu-  fiie  of  its  assailants.  The 
fla;;'  of  the  Hritish  siiip  "Hermes"  was  shot  away;  and  soon  after,  a  round 
shot  cut  her  cable,  and  siie  drifted  ujion  a  sand-bank,  and  la\  helpless, 
a!ul  exposed  to  a  rakini;'  fire  I  U'r  captain,  havinj;  set  her  alire,  al)andoned 
her  ;  and  siie  soon  blew  up.  The  other  vessels  kept  up  the  attack 
gallantly  fur  a  time.  The  tlag-staff  of  the  fort  was  shot  away;  but  the 
flag  soon  re-appeared,  waving  from  a  sponge-staff.  The  Americans  then 
redoubK'd  tluir  tire,  which  soon  told  so  severely  upon  the  Hrilish  ships 
that  they  were  forced  to  withdraw.  In  the  nuan  time,  the  assault  of  the 
Indians  and  troops  had  betri  checked,  and  the  forces  driven  back  in 
disorder,  thus  leaving  the  victory  to  the  Americans. 

It  is  not  within  the  pioviiue  of  this  woik  to  treat  of  the  military 
operations  that  led  up  to  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  Hut  the  last  months 
of    1814  witnesseil  a   series    of    naval   incidents   trivial    in    themselves,  but 


m' 


T 


IJIAK-JAIKKIS  ol"    iSii. 


(lerivin{;  imixdtaiicc  iKnn  llu'ir  lonncctioii  witli  (liii.  Jacksi'ii's  j;reat  viitniy. 
OviT  tcttain  inciilcnts  in  tin-  preparations  of  llic  Americans  for  rcpclliiij; 
tlu-  invasion  lian;;s  a  shade  of   romance. 

To  tlu-  soutlnvard  of  the  (piaint,  rambling,  ro^e-covered  cit\-  of  N'cw 
Orleans,  tiie  tawn)'  llooii  of  the  Mississi|)pi  winds  towards  the  i;ult'  in 
hu^e  serpentine  curves.  The  shores  between  whiiii  it  llows  rise  sc;.rce 
hi^dier  tlian  the  surface  of  the  river  itself;  and  a  sh^ht  increase  in  tiie 
vohune  of  water,  or  a  strong;  wind,  will  serve  to  turn  the  wiiole  re},don 
into  a  ;;reat,  watery  marsh.  l'"roni  che  mouth  of  the  great  river,  the  whole 
coast  of  Louisiana,  extendinj;  north  and  west,  is  a  grass)  sea,  a  vast 
expanse  of  marsh-grass,  broken  here  and  there  by  inlets  of  the  Mexican 
(Jnlf,  and  sluggish,  winding  bayous  that  lead  up  into  the  higher  lands  of 
the  State,  —  water-w;;\s  that  lead  even  to  the  back  door  of  the  Crescent 
City  hersrif,  but  known  only  to  oyster-gatherers,  or  in  1.S14  to  liie  adven- 
turous nun  who  followed  the  banner  of   Lahtte  tlu-   I'/iratarian  pirate. 

I'irate  he  was  called  then;  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  liis  misdeeds  ever 
exceeded  Miniggling,  or,  at  worst,  privateering  under  the  protecting  Mag  of 
some  belligerent  nation.  When  all  nations  wi-re  warring,  what  was  easier 
than  for  a  few  gallant  fellows,  \ii'.h  svvift-sailing  feluccas,  to  lurk  about 
the  shores  of  the  gulf,  and  now  under  the  Spanish  flag,  now  under  the 
l'"reiuh,  or  an\  colors  wliich  suited  the  case,  sally  out  and  lapturr  the 
richly  laden  Indiamen  that  fre(piented  those  summer  seas.'  And  when  a 
powi'r  known  as  the  United  States  (lovernment,  that  had  its  cpiarters 
more  than  a  thousand  miles  from  the  country  of  the  Creoles,  passed  an 
outr.igeoiis  law  known  as  the  embargo,  what  was  more  nalm-al  than  that 
the  Haratan.ins,  knowing  the  mysterious  waler-ways  that  K-d  up  to  the 
Crescent  City,  should  utili/e  their  knowledge  to  take  shijjs  and  cargoi-s 
in  and  out  without  the  formality  of  a  custom-house  examination  .'  .Such 
were  the  times  that  led  to  the  formation  and  growth  of  the  "piratical" 
colony  of  Harataria.  Its  k-aders  and  riders  wen-  b)hn  and  j'ii'rre  I-afnte; 
one  of  whom  lived  in  N\  \v  <  )rleans  in  the  character  ot  a  prosjieroiis 
merchant,  while  the  othei-  led  the  (.-xpeditions  whiih  brought  in  merchan- 
dise  to  sti)ck    the    former's    stores.      L'nder   the    iidluence    of    the    warlike 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


It  e  m 


a" 


K    III  2.2 


12.0 


140 


1.4 


1.6 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  iVtA'N  STREET 

WeBSTER.N.Y.  11:30 

(714)  872-4503 


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^ 


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em.  ^ 


Ux 


364 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


state  of  Europe,  the  trade  of  these  worthies  throve,  and  their  settlement 
at  Grande  Isle  took  on  the  appearance  of  a  prosperous  colony  and  naval 
station.  Storehouses  and  dwellings  stood  close  to  the  sea.  The  fertile 
face  of  the  island  was  cut  up  into  fruitful  plantations  and  orange-groves. 
Breastworks,  well  dotted  with  the  muzzles  of  cannon,  commanded  the 
approach  by  sea.  More  than  once,  from  behind  those  ramparts,  the  Bar- 
atarians  had  proved  that  they  could  fight,  and  that  they  acknowledged 
the  authority  of  no  flag.  The  Creoles  of  New  Orleans  looked  indulgently 
upon  the  conduct  of  the  outlaws ;  but  the  few  Americans  in  the  city  were 
highly  incensed  to  see  the  authority  of  the  United  States  thus  set  aside, 
and  vowed  that  when  the  war  was  over,  the  audacious  adventurers  should 
be  crushed.     However,  the  end  came  even  sooner. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  a  British  armed  brig  anchored  near  the  bucca- 
neers' retreat,  and  sent  a  flag  of  truce  ashore.  Lafitte,  with  great  dignity, 
received  the  envoys  in  his  tent,  and  assured  them  of  his  protection,  though 
the  whole  village  was  up  in  arms  clamoring  for  the  death  of  the  intruders. 
The  British  officer  then  announced  that  he  had  come  to  secure  the  aid 
of  Lafitte  and  his  followers  in  the  campaign  against  New  Orleans.  He 
offered  the  pirate  captain  forgiveness  for  all  piracies  committed  against 
the  British  flag,  —  whoreat  the  chief  smiled  sardonically,  —  also  thirty 
thousand  dollars  in  cash,  a  captain's  commission  in  the  British  navy,  and 
lands  for  himself  and  his  followers.  It  was  a  tempting  bribe  ;  for  at  that 
moment  Lafitte's  brother  lay  in  the  calabo::a  at  New  Orleans  awaiting  trial 
for  piracy,  and  the  Americans  were  preparing  rapidly  for  a  descent  upon 
the  Baratarian  stronghold.  But,  little  as  he  liked  the  American  flag,  Lafitte 
liked  the  British  still  less :  so,  asking  the  Englishman  to  wait  a  few  days  for 
his  answer,  he  sent  a  report  of  the  occurrence  to  the  New  Orleans  authori- 
ties, and  offered  to  co-operate  with  the  Americans,  if  he  could  be  assured  of 
pardon  for  all  offences  committed  against  the  government.  This  document 
caused  some  hesitation  at  New  Orleans  ;  but  the  military  authorities  deter- 
mined to  refuse  the  offer,  and  break  up  the  outlaws'  nest.  Accordingly,  a 
few  days  later,  the  war  schooner  "Carolina,"  six  gun-boats,  a  tender,  and 
a  launch,  dropped  down  the  Mississippi,  and,  rounding   into  the  deep  blue 


71 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


365 


waters  of  the  gulf,  headed  for  Barataria.  Lafitte  had  tuo  many  friends  in 
New  Orleans  not  to  know  of  the  force  thus  sent  against  him ;  and,  when  the 
Americans  reached  Grande  Terre,  they  found  the  pirates  at  their  batteries, 
and  the  Baratarian  flotilla  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle.  The  contest  was 
sharp,  but  ended  in  the  rout  of  the  Baratarians.  Their  village  was  burned, 
their  fortifications  razed ;  and,  when  the  triumphant  Americans  returned  to 
New  Orleans,  they  brought  in  their  train  ten  armed  prizes  and  a  number 
of  prisoners,  although  Lafitte  was  not  to  be  found  among  the  latter. 
Thereafter,  the  Baratarians,  as  an  organization,  vanished  from  history. 
Lafitte  was  afterwards  occasionally  heard  of  as  a  desperado  on  the  more 
western  shores  of  the  Mexican  Gulf  ;  and  it  is  further  noticeable,  that  two 
guns  were  served  by  Baratarians  under  their  old  lieutenant,  Dominique  Yon, 
on  that  bloody  day  when  Packenham's  forces  were  beaten  back  on  the  field 
of  Chalmette. 

Early  in  December  the  movement  of  the  British  upon  ?Jew  Orleans 
took  definite  shape.  On  the  8th  of  that  month,  the  calm  waters  of  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  off  the  Chandeleur  Islands,  were  the  scene  of  a  grand  rendez- 
vous of  British  naval  and  military  forces.  All  the  vessels  of  Cockburn's 
Chesapeake  fleet  were  there,  with  other  men-of-war,  transports,  and 
schooners,  to  the  number  of  fifty  vessels.  At  the  head  was  the  towering 
two-decker  "Tonnant,"  carrying  the  Admiral's  flag.  Frigates,  corvettes, 
and  sloops-of-war  came  trooping  in  the  rear ;  and  the  transports  bore  seven 
thousand  men  for  the  capture  of  the  Southern  city.  The  British  were  in 
high  good-humor  as  the  anchors  were  let  fall  and  the  ships  swung  round 
with  their  heads  to  the  tide.  The  voyage  across  the  gulf  from  the  rendez- 
vous at  Jamaica  had  been  like  a  holiday  trip.  The  weather  had  been  fine, 
and  the  sea  smooth  ;  and  the  soft  air  of  that  semi-tropical  region  was  a 
never-ending  source  of  delight  to  sailors  who  had  been  suffering  the  hard- 
ships of  a  Northern  station. 

The  point  at  which  the  British  fleet  had  come  to  anchor  lay  about 
fifty  miles  due  east  of  New  Orleans.  In  that  day  of  sailing-vessels,  no 
enemy  could  breast  the  waters  of  the  rolling  Mississippi  and  crush  the 
resistance   of  the   city's   defenders,    as  did    Farragut   in    1862.     Knowing 


I II 


lii 


i\ 


I 


i 


\ 


i 


366 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    181 2. 


that  they  could  not  hope  to  take  their  ships  up  to  the  levee  of  the  city, 
the  enemy  determined  to  cast  anchor  near  the  entrance  of  Lake  Borgne, 
and  send  through  a  chain  of  lakes  and  bayoils  a  mammoth  expedition  in 
barges,  to  a  point  within  ten  miles  of  the  city.  But  this  well-laid  plan  had 
been  betrayed  to  the  Americans  by  Lafitte ;  and  a  little  band  of  American 
sailors,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Catesby  Jones,  had  taken  up  a 
position  at  the  Rigolets,  and  were  prepared  to  dispute  the  farther  progress 
of  the  invading  forces.  Five  gunboats,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty-five 
men,  constituted  the  American  force,  which  for  a  time  held  the  British 
in  check.  Finally,  the  enemy,  finding  that  the  swift  American  cutters 
could  easily  evade  the  lumbering  war-vessels,  fitted  out  a  fleet  of  forty-five 
barges,  manned  by  a  thousand  veteran  British  sea-dogs,  who  had  seen 
service  in  half  a  dozen  naval  wars.  The  Americans  had  news  of  the 
contemplated  attack,  and  made  skilful  preparations  to  meet  it.  The 
gunboats  were  moored  in  a  fore  and  aft  line,  at  a  point  near  the  Rigolets, 
Their  broadsides  bore  upon  the  enemy,  and  the  shallowness  of  the  water 
was  such  that  by  no  means  could  they  be  surrounded.  The  sailors  were 
prepared  for  a  desperate  conflict,  and  spent  the  night  before  the  battle  in 
tricing  up  the  boarding-nettings,  sharpening  cutlasses,  and  getting  small- 
arms  in  good  trim.  In  the  morning  the  British  came  on  to  the  attack. 
It  was  a  long  pull  from  the  fleet  to  the  place  of  battle :  so  their  commander 
brought  his  flotilla  to  anchor  just  out  of  range  of  the  American  guns;  and 
there  the  grim  old  veterans  devoured  their  dinners,  and  took  their  rations 
of  grog,  with  appetites  undisturbed  by  the  thought  of  the  coming  conflict. 
Dinner  over,  the  enemy  weighed  anchor,  and  dashed  forward,  with  long, 
swift  strokes,  into  the  very  flashes  of  the  Americans'  cannon.  The 
Americans  knew  that  their  one  chance  of  victory  was  to  keep  the 
overwhelming  forces  of  their  foe  out  of  boarding  distance,  and  they  worked 
their  guns  with  a  rapidity  born  of  desperation.  Musket-bullets,  grape- 
shot,  and  canister  poiu'ed  in  a  murderous  fire  upon  the  advancing  boats. 
But  the  sturdy  old  British  veterans  knew  that  the  best  way  to  stop  that 
fire  was  to  get  at  the  base  of  it ;  and  they  pressed  on  undauntedly,  respond- 
ing vigorously,  meanwhile,  with  their   bow  guns.     Soon  they  were   up   to 


'f   i! 


!il 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


367 


the  gunwales  of  the  American  flotilla,  and  the  grappling-irons  were  fixed  ; 
then,  with  sharp  blows  of  cutlasses,  deadly  play  of  the  pikes,  and  a  ceaseless 
rattle  of  small-arms,  they  poured  upon  the  decks  of  the  Americans.  The 
boarding-nettings  could  not  long  check  so  furious  a  foe,  and  fell  before 
the  fierce  slash  of  the  cutlasses.  The  decks  once  gained,  the  overpower- 
ing numbers  of  the  Englishmen  crushed  all  further  resistance ;  and  the 
flotilla  was  finally  taken,  after  about  one  hundred  of  the  enemy  and 
fifty  Americans  had  fallen. 

The  American  flotilla  being  thus  shattered,  there  remained  no  further 
obstacle  to  prevent  the  landing  of  the  invading  army.  Of  the  advance 
of  that  brilliant  body  of  veteran  troops  cer  sands  and  marshes,  and 
through  sluggish  bayous  and  canals  half-full  of  stagnant  water,  until 
they  emerged  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  nine  miles  below  New  Orleans,  it 
is  not  my  purpose  to  speak  further.  Nor  does  an  account  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son's vigorous  measures  of  defence  and  glorious  victory  come  within  the 
province  of  this  narrative.  The  interesting  story  of  Jackson's  creation 
of  an  army  from  leather-shirted  Kentucky  riflemen,  gay  Creoles  from  the 
Creole  Quarter  of  the  Crescent  City,  swarthy  Spaniards  and  mulattoes, 
nondescript  desperadoes  from  the  old  band  of  Lafitte,  and  militia  and 
regulars  from  all  the  Southern  States,  forms  no  part  of  the  naval  annals 
of  the  war.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  the  flower  of  the  British  army,  led 
by  a  veteran  of  the  Peninsula,  recoik  d  before  that  motley  crew  of  untrained 
soldiers,  and  were  beaten  back,  leaving  their  gallant  leader  and  thousands 
of  their  brave  men  dead  upon  the  field.  The  navy  was  not  without  some 
share  in  this  glorious  triumph.  On  the  23d  of  December  the  schooner 
"Carolina"  dropped  down  from  New  Orleans,  and  opened  fire  upon  the 
enemy.  "  Now,  then,  for  the  honor  of  America,  give  it  to  them  ! "  sung 
out  her  commander,  as  the  first  broadside  was  fired.  The  attack,  unex- 
pected as  it  was,  created  a  panic  in  the  British  camp.  A  feeble  reply 
was  made  with  rockets  and  musketry ;  but  even  this  was  soon  discontinued, 
and  the  enemy  took  refuge  under  the  steep  bank  of  the  levee,  whither 
the  plunging  shot  could  not  follow  them.  All  night  the  "Carolina"  1  it 
up  her  fire ;  and,  when  at  daybreak  she  moved  away,  she  left  the  camp  of 


!» 


IP 


h 


11! 
i 


;68 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


the  enemy  in  confusion.  During  the  clay  she  renewed  the  attack,  and 
persisted  in  her  fire  until  the  British  threw  up  a  heavy  battery  on  the 
river's  bank,  and  replied.  The  lads  of  the  "Carolina"  promjitly  accepted 
the  challenge  thus  offered,  and  for  a  time  a  spirited  combat  was  maintained. 
But  the  battery  threw  red-hot  shot,  and  the  schooner  was  soon  set  on  fire 
and  destroyed.  Meanwhile  the  corvette  "  Louisiana "  had  come  down  to 
the  scene  of  action,  and  in  the  subsequent  engagements  did  some  effective 
work.  When  the  final  onslaught  of  the  British  was  made,  on  Jan.  7,  18/5, 
the  guns  of  the  "Louisiana"  were  mounted  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
river,  and  the  practised  sailors  worked  them  with  deadly  effect,  until  the 
flight  of  the  American  militia  on  that  side  exposed  the  battery  to  certain 
capture.  The  sailors  then  spiked  their  guns,  and  marched  off  unmolested. 
The  sailors  of  the  "  Carolina,"  on  that  day  of  desperate  fighting,  were 
in  the  centre  of  Jackson's  line,  between  the  Creoles  and  the  swarthy 
Baratarians  under  Dominique  Yon.  Here  they  worked  their  howitzers, 
and  watched  the  scarlet  lines  of  the  enemy  advance  and  melt  away  before 
that  deadly  blaze ;  advance  and  fall  back  again  in  hopeless  rout.  And 
among  the  many  classes  of  fighting  men  whom  Jackson  had  rallied  before 
that  British  line,  none  did  battle  more  valiantly  for  the  honor  of  the  nation 
and  the  safety  of  the  flowery  city  of  New  Orleans  than  did  those  blue- 
jackets ashore. 

It  is  a  fitting  commentary  upon  the  folly  of  war,  that  the  battle  of 
New  Orleans  was  fought  after  the  two  warring  nations  had  signed  a  treaty 
of  peace.  The  lives  of  some  hundreds  of  brave  Englishmen  and  Americans 
were  needlessly  sacrificed  in  a  cause  already  decided.  Far  across  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  in  the  quaint  old  Dutch  city  of  Ghent,  representatives 
of  England  and  the  United  States  met,  and,  after  some  debate,  signed  the 
treaty  on  the  24th  of  December,  18 14.  But  there  was  then  no  Atlantic 
cable,  no  "ocean  greyhounds"  to  annihilate  space  and  time  ;  and  it  was 
months  before  the  news  of  the  treaty  reached  the  scene  of  war.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  hostilities  were  continued  by  land  and  sea. 

The  year  1815  found  the  American  navy  largely  increased  by  new 
vessels,  though  the  vigilance  of  the  British  blockaders  kept  most  of  these 


V 


M 


BLUf<:-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


369 


I 


I 


I 


close  in  port.  The  "Constitution"  was  at  sea,  having  run  the  blockade 
at  Boston.  In  New  York  Harbor  were  the  "  President,"  "  Peacock," 
■'Hornet,"  and  "Tom  Bowline,"  awaiting  a  chance  to  slip  out  for  a 
cruise  to  the  East  Indies.  It  was  decided  that  the  vessels  should  run 
out  singly,  and  the  "President"  was  selected  to  make  the  first  attempt. 
The  night  of  the  14th  of  January  was  dark  and  foggy,  and  the  blockad- 
ing fleet  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  Then,  if  ever,  was  the  time  for  escape ; 
and  the  Yankee  tars  weighed  anchor  and  started  out  through  the  Narrows. 
In  the  impenetrable  darkness  of  the  night,  baffled  by  head-winds  and 
perplexing  currents,  the  pilots  lost  their  reckoning,  and  the  orders  to 
the  man  at  the  wheel  were  quick  and  nervous,  until  an  ominous  grating 
of  the  ship's  keel,  followed  by  the  loss  of  headway,  told  that  the  frigate 
was  aground.  For  a  time  the  ship  lay  helpless,  straining  all  her  timbers 
as  each  wave  lifted  her  slightly,  and  then  let  the  heavy  hull  fall  back 
upon  the  shoal.  By  ten  o'clock  the  rising  tide  floated  her  off ;  but,  on 
examination,  Capt.  Decatur  found  that  she  was  seriously  injured.  To 
return  to  port  was  impossible  with  the  wind  then  blowing :  so  all  sail 
was  crowded  on,  in  the  hopes  of  getting  safely  away  before  the  blockad- 
ing squadron  should  catch  sight  of  the  ship.  As  luck  would  have  it, 
the  blockaders  had  been  forced  from  their  posts  by  the  gale  of  the  day 
before,  and  the  "  President  "  had  laid  her  course  so  as  to  infallibly  fall 
into  their  clutches.  Before  daylight  the  lookout  reported  two  sail  in 
sight,  and  at  daybreak  the  ship  was  fairly  surrounded  by  the  enemy's 
vessels.  All  at  once  gave  chase  to  the  luckless  American ;  and  a  few 
hours  were  enough  to  show  that  her  sailing  qualities  were  so  seriously 
injured  by  her  pounding  on  the  bar,  that  the  enemy  was  rapidly  over- 
hauling her.  Decatur  adopted  every  known  expedient  to  increase  his 
ship's  speed,  but  to  no  avail.  After  she  had  been  lightened  by  starting 
the  water,  cutting  away  boats  and  anchors,  chopping  up  and  heaving 
overboard  the  ponderous  cables,  together  with  spars  and  provisions,  the 
enemy  still  gained ;  and  the  foremost  pursuer,  a  razee,  opened  fire.  The 
"  President "  responded  with  her  stern-chasers,  but  her  shot  had  no  effect. 
"It    is    said    that   on    this   occasion,"    writes    Cooper,    "the    shot   of    the 


ill 


:i 


il 


^m 


0/ 


o 


BLUK-JACKHTS   OF    iSi; 


American  ship  were  observed  to  be  thrown  with  a  momentum  so  unusu- 
ally small,  as  to  have  since  excited  much  distrust  of  the  quality  of  her 
gunpowder.  It  is  even  added,  that  many  of  these  shot  were  distinctly 
seen,  when  clear  of  the  smoke,  until  they  strick."  At  six  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  the  frigate  "  Endymion "  led  the  British  squadron  in  chase, 
and  had  gained  a  position  so  close  upon  the  American's  beam  that  her 
broadsides  were  rapidly  crippling  the  fugitive.  Thereupon  Decatur  deter- 
mined upon  a  desperate  expedient,  thr  i  sounds  like  some  of  his  reckless 
exploits  in  the  war  with  Tripoli.  His  plan  was  to  bring  the  "  President  " 
about,  and  run  boldly  alongside  the  enemy.  Every  thing  was  to  be 
sacrificed  to  the  end  of  getting  to  close  quarters.  When  once  the  two 
ships  had  grappled,-  the  Americans  were  to  board,  carry  the  British  ship 
in  a  hand-to-hand  battle,  and  then,  abandoning  the  crippled  "  President," 
escape  in  the  captured  frigate.  So  desperate  a  plan  needed  the  cordial 
co-operation  of  every  man  :  so  it  was  first  presented  to  the  commiss'oned 
officers,  who  gladly  embraced  the  desperate  project.  The  sailors  were 
then  sent  aft,  and  Decatur  addressed  them  from  the  quarter-deck. 

"  My  lads,"  said  he,  "  that  ship  is  coming  up  with  us.  As  our  ship 
won't  sail,  we'll  go  on  board  of  theirs,  every  man  and  boy  of  us,  and 
carry  her  into  New  York.  All  I  ask  of  you  is  to  follow  me.  This  is  a 
favorite  ship  of  the  country.  If  we  allow  her  to  be  taken,  we  shall  be 
deserted  by  our  wives  and  sweethearts.  What,  let  such  a  ship  as  this 
go  for  nothing !  'Twould  break  the  heart  of  every  pretty  girl  in  New 
York." 

With  hearty  cheers,  the  jackies  returned  to  their  guns.  All  were 
ready  for  the  coming  struggle.  Over  the  main  hatch  was  mounted  a 
howitzer,  with  its  black  muzzle  peering  down  into  the  hold,  ready  to 
scuttle  the  ship  when  the  boarders  should  spring  upon  the  enemy's  deck. 
The  sun,  by  this  time,  had  sunk  below  the  horizon,  and  the  darkness  of 
night  was  gathering  over  the  ocean.  The  two  ships  surged  toward  each 
other, — great  black  masses,  lighted  up  on  either  side  by  rows  of  open 
ports,  through  which  gleamed  the  uncertain  light  of  the  battle-lanterns. 
On  the  gun-deck   the   men    stood    stern    and    silent ;   their  thoughts  fixed 


'  < 


\i 


PRESIDENT    AND    ENDYMION. 


1  ! 


BLUt:-JACKETS   Ol<    1812. 


373 


upon  the  coming  battle,  or  perhaps  wandering  back  to  the  green  fields 
and  pleasant  homes  they  had  so  recently  left,  perhaps  forever.  The  gray 
old  yeoman  of  the  frigate,  with  his  mates,  walked  from  gun  to  gun, 
silently  placing  a  well-sharpened  cutlass,  a  dirk,  and  a  heavy  leather 
boarding-cap  at  each  man's  side.  The  marines  were  drawn  up  in  a 
line  amidships;  their  erect,  soldierly  air  and  rigid  alignment  contrasting 
with  the  careless  slouchiness  of  the  sailors.  Butts  for  the  sailors'  ridicule 
as  they  were  during  a  cruise,  the  marines  knew  that,  in  hand-to-hand 
conflicts,  their  part  was  as   dashing  as   that   of   their  tormentors  of  the 

forecastle. 

When  the  "President"  had  come  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  her 
adversary,  Decatur  perceived  that  his  enemy  was  determined  to  decide 
the  contest  at  long  range.  As  the  "President"  hauled  down  nearer, 
the  "  Endymion  "  sheered  off,  keeping  up  meanwhile  a  vigorous  cannon- 
ade. To  this  the  Americans  responded  in  kind ;  and  so  much  superior 
was  the  gunnery  of  the  Yankee  tars,  that  the  rigging  of  the  enemy  was 
seen  to  be  fast  going  to  pieces,  while  her  guns  were  being  silenced  one 
by  one.  But  her  fire  did  sad  havoc  among  the  men  of  the  "President," 
and  particularly  among  the  officers.  The  first  broadside  carried  away 
Decatur's  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Babbitt,  who  was  struck  by  a  thirty-two- 
pound  shot,  which  cut  off  his  right  leg  below  the  knee,  and  hurled  him 
through  the  wardroom  hatch  to  the  deck  below,  fracturing  his  wounded 
leg  in  two  places.  Shortly  after,  Decatur  was  knocked  to  the  deck  by 
a  heavy  splinter.  For  some  time  he  lay  unconscious ;  then  opening  his 
eyes,  and  seeing  a  throng  of  anxious  seamen  about  him,  he  ordered 
them  to  their  stations,  and  resumed  his  duties.  The  fire  of  the  "Endy- 
mion" then  slackened;  and  she  lay  upon  the  water,  with  her  sails  cut 
from  the  yards.  At  that  moment  Lieut.  Howell  turned  to  a  midship- 
man standing  at  his  side,  and  said  gayly,  "Well,  we  have  whipped  that 
ship,  at  any  rate."  A  flash  from  the  bow  of  the  Englishman  followed  ; 
and  he  added,  "No:  there  she  is  again."  The  midshipman  turned  to 
reply,  and  saw  Howell  stretched  dead  at  his  feet,  killed  by  the  last 
shot  of  the  battle. 


i 


374 


HLUK-JACKKTS   OF    1812. 


The  enemy  was  now  helpless,  and  it  would  have  been  easy  enough  for 
the  "  President "  to  choose  her  position  and  compel  her  adversary  to  strike ; 
but  the  presence  of  two  more  Englishmen,  rapidly  coming  up  astern,  forced 
the  Americans  to  abandon  their  prey  and  continue  their  flighl.  It  was 
then  late  in  the  evening,  and  the  night  was  dark  and  starless.  Every  light 
was  extinguished  on  the  American  frigate,  in  the  hope  that  by  so  doing 
she  might  slip  away  under  cover  of  the  night.  But  the  British  lookouts 
were  sharp-eyed  ;  and  by  eleven  o'clock  two  frigates  had  closed  in  on  the 


'-^  _  'T:?r^ 


J. 


THE  "PRESIDENT"  TRIES  TO   ESCAPE. 


crippled  ship,  and  a  third  was  rapidly  coming  up  astern.  All  were  pouring 
in  rapid  broadsides,  and  the  dark  waters  were  lighted  up  like  a  fiery  sea 
by  the  ceaseless  flashing  of  the  guns.  Thus  surrouii.ued  and  overpowered, 
there  remained  open  to  the  Americans  no  course  but  to  surrender ;  and 
at  eleven  o'clock  at  night  the  "  President "  made  signal  that  she  had 
struck.  Her  fate,  like  that  of  the  "  Chesapeake,"  had  accorded  with  the 
superstitious  sailors'  notion  that  she  was  an  unlucky  ship.  In  the  long 
running  fight,  neither  the  Americans  nor  the  British  had  escaped  without 
severe   loss.     On   the   "  President "  were   twenty-four  killed   and   fifty-six 


HLUK-JACKHTS   OK    1S12, 


375 


or 

-  > 

id 

as 

ht 

ig 
ts 

c 


wounded  ;  the  first,  second,  and  third  lieutenants  being  among  the  slain. 
The  "  Endymion  "  had  eleven  men  killed  and  fourteen  wounded.  The  two 
frigates  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  Be'mada;  but  the  "President's"  bad 
luck  seemed  to  follow  her,  for  on  the  way  she  encountered  a  te'rrific  gale, 
by  which  her  masts  were  carried  away,  and  her  timbers  so  strained  that 
all  the  upper-deck  guns  had  to  be  thrown  overboard  to  save  the  ship. 

The  loss  of  the  "  President,"  at  the  very  mouth  of  the  New  York  Harbor, 
was  certainly  a  most  inauspicious  opening  for  the  naval  operations  of  1815. 
The  people  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  to  whom  had  come  neither  the 
news  of  peace  nor  of  the  glorious  success  of  the  American  arms  at  New 
Orleans,  were  plunged  into  despondency.  "  Now  that  Great  Britain  is  at 
peace  with  Europe,"  thought  they,  "  ,sh<;  can  e.xert  all  her  power  in  the 
task  of  subjugating  America;"  and  mouri  !  il  visions  of  a  return  to  British 
rule  darkened  their  horizon.  But,  even  while  they  were  thus  saddened 
by  Decatur's  defeat,  ?  gallant  ve' s  1  —  the  mor  uch  of  the  American 
itiivy  —  was  fighting  a  good  fight  for  the  honor  of  the  nation;  and  out  of 
that  fight  she  came  witli  colors  flying  and  two  captive  men-of-war  following 
in  her  wake. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  "  Constitution  "  left  Boston  in  December, 

1 8 14,  for  an  extended  cruise.  The  gallant  frigate,  always  a  favorite  among 
man-o'-war's  men,  carried  with  her  on  this  cruise  a  full  crew  of  native 
Americans,  —  thorough  seamen,  and  as  plucky  fighters  as  ever  pulled  a 
lanyard  or  carried  a  cutlass.     Her  course  lay  due  east ;  and  in  January, 

181 5,  she  was  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  where  she  fell  in  with,  and  captured, 
two  prizes.  After  this  she  cruised  about  for  a  month,  without  encounter- 
ing an  enemy.  American  privateers  and  cruisers  had  fairly  driven  British 
merchantmen  from  the  seas,  and  the  tars  of  the  "  Constitution  "  found 
their  time  hanging  heavily  on  their  hands.  The  captain  was  an  able  and 
considerate  officer,  and  much  freedom  was  allowed  the  jackies  in  their 
amusements.  With  boxing,  broadsword,  and  single-stick  play,  drill  and 
skylarking,  the  hours  of  daylight  were  whiled  away ;  and  by  night  the 
men  off  duty  would  gather  about  the  forecastle  lantern  to  play  with  greasy, 
well-thumbed  cards,  or  warble  tender  ditties  to  black-eyed  Susans  far  across 


I  I 


2,7(> 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


the  Atlantic.  Patriotic  melodies  formed  no  small  part  of  Jack's  musical 
repertoire.  Of  these,  this  one,  written  by  a  landsman,  was  for  a  long 
time  popular  among  the  tuneful  souls  of  the  forecastle,  and  was  not 
altogether  unknown  in  the  wardroom. 

"  Now  coil  up  y'r  nonsense  'bout  England's  great  navy, 
And  take  in  y'r  slack  about  oak-hearted  tars ; 
For  frigates  as  stout,  and  as  gallant  crews  have  we, 

Or  how  came  their  "  Macedon  "  decked  with  our  stars .' 
Yes,  how  came  her  "  Guerriere,"  her  "  Peacock,"  and  "  Java," 

All  sent  broken-ribbed  to  old  Davy  of  late .'' 
How  came  it?    Why,  split  me,  than  Britons  we're  braver; 
And  that  they  shall  feel,  too,  whenever  wc  meet. 
Then  charge  the  can  cheerily, 
Send  it  round  merrily : 
Here's  to  our  country,  and  captains  commanding; 
To  all  who  inherit 
Of  Lawrence  the  spirit 
Disdaining  to  strike  while  a  stick  is  left  standing." 

Many  were  the  verses  of  this  notable  production ;  for,  to  be  popular  in 
the  forecastle,  a  song  must  play  a  lengthy  part  in  "  teasing  time."  One 
verse,  however,  is  enough  to  show  the  manly,  if  perhaps  unreasoning,  pride 
the  blue-jackets  took  in  the  triumphs  of  the  navy. 

But  the  time  of  the  sailors  on  this  closing  cruise  of  the  war  was  not 
destined  to  be  spent  in  sport  and  singing  alone.  The  noble  frigate  was 
not  to  return  to  the  stagnation  of  a  season  of  peace  in  port,  without  adding 
yet  another  honor  to  her  already  honorable  record.  On  the  morning  of 
the  20th  of  February,  as  the  ship  was  running  aimlessly  before  a  light 
wind,  some  inexplicable  impulse  led  Capt.  Stewart  to  suddenly  alter 
his  course  and  run  off  some  sixty  miles  to  the  south-west.  Again  the 
"  Constitution's "  good  luck  seemed  to  justify  the  sailors'  belief,  for  at 
noon  she  ran  into  a  group  of  vessels.  The  first  vessel  was  sighted  on 
the  larboard  bow,  and,  as  the  frigate  overhauled  her,  proved  to  be  a  full- 
rigged  ship.     Soon  after  a  second  sail,  also  a  ship,  was  sighted ;  and  a  few 


BLUR-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


;77 


minutes  more  sufficed  to  show  that  both  were  men-of-war.  The  oho  first 
sighted  was  the  frigate-built  corvette  "  Cyane,"  of  thirty-four  guns  ;  and  the 
second  was  the  sloop-of-war  "  Levant,"  of  twenty-one  guns.  For  either  of 
these  vessels  singly,  the  "  Constitution,"  with  her  fifty-two  guns  and  crew 
of  four  hundred  and  fifty  men,  was  more  than  a  match.  Yet  to  attack 
the  two  was  a  bold  movement,  and  this  Stewart  determined  to  undertake. 
Hardly  had  the  character  of  the  strangers  been  made  out,  when  the  corvette 
was  seen  making  signals  to  the  sloop;  and  the  two  vessels,  then  about  ten 
miles  apart,  made  all  sail  to  get  together  before  the  enemy  should  overhaul 
them.  This  juncture  was  precisely  what  Stewart  wished  to  prevent ;  and 
in  a  trice  the  shrill  notes  of  the  boatswain's  whistle  sent  the  sailors  in 
swarms  into  the  rigging,  and  the  frigate  was  as  if  by  magic  clothed  with  a 
broad  expanse  of  canvas.  Quickly  she  felt  the  effect,  and  bounded  through 
the  water  after  the  distant  ships  like  a  dolphin  chasing  a  school  of  flying- 
fish.  The  old  tars  on  the  forecastle  looked  knowingly  over  the  side  at 
the  foamy  water  rushing  past,  and  then  cast  approving  glances  aloft  where 
every  sail  was  drawing.  But  their  complacency  was  shattered  by  a  loud 
crash  aloft,  which  proved  to  be  the  main  royal-mast  which  had  given  way 
under  the  strain.  Another  spar  was  rigged  speedily,  and  shipped  by  the 
active  tars,  and  soon  the  snowy  clouds  aloft  showed  no  signs  of  the  wreck. 
At  sundown  the  three  vessels  were  so  near  each  other  that  their  colors 
could  be  seen.  Stewart  ran  up  the  stars  and  stripes,  to  which  the  strangers 
responded  by  setting  the  British  flag  at  their  mastheads. 

The  purpose  of  the  enemy  was  to  delay  the  opening  of  the  action 
until  night  should  give  him  opportunity  to  manoeuvre  unobserved ;  but 
the  "  Constitution,"  suspecting  this,  pressed  forward  hotly,  and  opened 
fire  a  few  minutes  after  si.x  o'clock.  By  skilful  seamanship  Stewart  kept 
the  windward  gage  of  both  enoniies  ;  and  the  fight  opened  with  the 
"Cyane"  on  the  port -quarter,  and  the  "Levant"  on  the  port-bow  of 
the  American  frigate.  Fifteen  minutes  of  fierce  cannonading  followed,  the 
combatants  being  within  musket-shot  most  of  the  time.  Every  gun  was 
engaged  ;  and  the  heavy  broadsides  shook  the  ships,  and  thundered  far 
over   the   placid   surface   of  the   ocean,   which  was  now  faintly  illumined 


378 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


by  the  rising  moon.  The  triangular  space  between  the  ships  was  filled 
with  the  dense  sulphurous  smoke  of  the  burning  powder ;  so  that  the 
gunners  could  see  nothing  of  the  enemy  at  whom  they  were  hurling  their 
ponderous  iron  bolts.  The  men  in  the  tops  could  now  and  again  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  top  hamper  of  the  enemy's  ships,  but  those  on  the  gun- 
deck  were  working  almost  at  random.  After  a  few  minutes  of  rapid 
firing,  the  fire  of  the  enemy  slackened ;  and  Stewart  directed  his  gunners 
to  cease  until  the  smoke  should  have  cleared  away.  At  this  command  a 
silence,  almost  oppressive  after  the  heavy  cannonading,  ensued,  broken 
only  by  the  occasional  report  of  a  gun  from  the  unseen  enemy,  sounding 
like  minute-guns  of  distress.  Anxiously  Stewart  waited  for  the  smoke  to 
blow  away.  When  it  did  so,  the  "Cyane"  was  seen  luffing  up,  to  come 
under  the  frigate's  stern,  and  get  in  a  raking  broadside.  The  movement 
was  discovered  just  in  time  to  be  checked.  Stewart  gave  a  heavy  broad- 
side to  the  "  Levant ; "  then,  bracing  back  his  topsails,  backed  his  ship 
down  abreast  of  the  "  Cyane,"  pouring  in  rapid  broadsides,  before  which 
the  fire  of  the  corvette  died  away.  Two  raking  broadsides  that  crashed 
into  the  stern  of  the  "Levant"  sent  that  craft  out  of  the  action,  to  refit. 
The  frigate  then  pressed  down  upon  the  "  Cyane,"  and  with  a  few  heavy 
broadsides  forced  her  to  strike. 

Capt.  Douglass  of  the  "  Levant "  then  proved  his  bravery  by  standing 
by  his  captured  consort ;  although  he  could  have  escaped  easily,  while  the 
"  Constitution  "  was  taking  possession  of  her  prize.  No  thought  of  flight 
seems  to  have  occurred  to  the  gallant  Briton,  though  he  must  have  known 
that  there  was  but  little  hope  of  his  coming  out  of  the  combat  victorious. 
Still  he  gallantly  came  back  into  the  fight,  meeting  the  "  Constitution " 
ploughing  along  on  the  opposite  tack.  Broadsides  were  exchanged  at  such 
close  range  that  the  Yankee  gunners  could  hear  the  ripping  of  the  planks 
on  the  enemy's  decks  as  the  solid  shot  crashed  through  beam  and  stan- 
chion. Having  passed  each  other,  the  ships  wore,  and  returned  to  the 
attack ;  but  the  weight  of  the  American's  metal  told  so  severely  upon 
the  "  Levant "  that  her  flag  was  hauled  down,  and,  firing  a  gun  to  leeward, 
she  gave  up  the  fight. 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


379 


As  an  exhibition  of  seamanship,  this  action  is  unrivalled  in  naval 
annals.  For  Stewart  to  have  taken  his  ship  into  action  with  two  hostile 
vessels,  and  so  handle  her  as  not  only  to  escape  being  raked,  but  actu- 
ally rake  his  enemies,  was  a  triumph  of  nautical  skill.  The  action  was 
hard  fought  by  both  parties.  The  loss  upon  the  British  vessels  has  never 
been  exactly  determined  ;  but  it  was  undoubtedly  large,  for  the  hulls  were 
badly  cut  up  by  the  American's  fire.  The  "Constitution"  had  but  three 
men  killed,  and  twelve  wounded.     The  officers  all  escaped  unhurt. 

After  a  few  hours'  pause  to  repair  damages,  Stewart  took  his  prizes 
into  Porto  Praya  in  the  Cape  Verde  Islands,  where  they  arrived  on  the 
lOth  of  March.  The  day  after  the  ships  reached  port,  a  heavy  fog  settled 
over  the  water,  cutting  off  vision  in  all  directions.  As  the  first  lieutenant 
of  the  "Constitution"  was  walking  the  quarter-deck,  he  heard  a  young 
midshipman  among  the  prisoners  suddenly  e.xclaim,  "There's  a  large  ship 
in  the  offing.  "  The  lieutenant  peered  about  on  every  side,  but  could  sec 
nothing,  until,  looking  upward,  he  saw  the  top-gallant  sails  of  a  large  siiip 
moving  along  above  the  fog-bank.  Capt.  Stewart  was  quickly  notified  ; 
and,  coolly  remarking  that  the  stranger  was  probably  a  British  frigate,  he 
ordered  that  the  men  be  sent  to  quarters,  and  the  ship  prepared  for 
action.  The  lieutenant  hastened  on  deck  to  execute  the  orders,  but  had 
hardly  reached  his  station  when  he  saw  the  sails  of  two  more  ships 
gliding  along  above  the  fog-bank.  Hastily  he  returned  to  the  captain's 
cabin  with  the  report.  Stewart  showed  no  emotion  or  alarm,  although 
he  knew  well  that  the  fact  that  he  was  in  a  neutral  port  would  be  no 
protection  against  the  British,  should  they  once  discover  his  presence. 
The  affair  of  the  "  Essex  "  was  still  fresh  in  his  mind.  Calmly  he  ordered 
the  lieutenant  to  make  sail  and  take  the  ship  to  sea,  signalling  to  the 
two  prizes  to  follow.  The  orders  were  given  quietly  on  deck ;  and  in 
fifteen  minutes  the  "Constitution,"  under  full  press  of  sail,  was  making 
her  way  out  of  Porto  Praya  roads.  On  the  shore  were  more  than  a 
hundred  prisoners  whom  Stewart  had  landed  under  parole.  Regardless 
of  the  dictates  of  honor,  these  men  rushed  to  a  Portuguese  battery,  and 
opened   fire  on   the   ships   as   they  passed   out.     Hearing  the   cannonade, 


•I 


\ 


iSo 


blue-jackf:ts  of  1812. 


the  lookouts  on  the  enemy's  vessels  looked  eagerly  for  its  cause,  and 
caught  sight,  above  the  fog,  of  the  rapidly  receding  topsails  of  the  fugi- 
tives. At  this  sight  the  British  set  out  in  pursuit ;  and  the  fog  soon 
clearing  away  revealed  to  the  Americans  two  ships-of-the-line  and  a 
frigate  following  fast  in  their  wake.  The  "Constitution"  and  the  "Cyane" 
easily  kept  out  of  reach  of  their  pursuers ;  but  the  "  Levant "  dropped 
behind,  and  finally,  at  a  signal  from  Stewart,  tacked,  and  stood  back  for 
Porto  Praya.  The  enemy  then  abandoned  the  pursuit  of  the  two  fore- 
most vessels,  and  followed  the  "  Levant,  "  but  failed  to  overhaul  her 
before  she  entered  the  harbor.  This,  however,  checked  the  British  not 
a  whit.  For  the  laws  of  nations  and  the  authority  of  the  Portuguese 
flag  that  floated  over  the  little  town,  they  cared  nothing.  On  they  came, 
and  opened  fire  on  the  "  Levant,"  which  had  dropped  anchor  under  what 
was  supposed  to  be  a  neutral  battery.  The  Americans  soon  discovered 
their  error.  Not  only  did  the  British  disregard  the  neutrality  of  the  port, 
but  the  paroled  prisoners  on  shore  took  possession  of  the  battery,  and 
opened  fire  upon  the  beleagured  craft.  Thus  caught  betwen  two  fires,  no 
hope  remained  to  the  /.mericans  ;  and,  after  a  few  minutes'  gallant  but 
useless  defence,  the  flag  of  the  "  Levant "  was  hauled  down,  and  she 
passed  again  into  the  hands  of  the  British. 

It  was  late  in  May  before  the  "  Constitution "  reached  New  York. 
Peace  had  then  been  declared  ;  but  none  the  less  were  Stewart  and  his 
men  feasted  and  honored.  The  old  frigate  had  won  for  herself  a  name 
ever  to  be  remembered  by  the  people  of  the  nation,  in  whose  service  she 
had  received  and  dealt  so  many  hard  knocks.  "  Old  Ironsides,"  they  called 
her ;  and  even  to-day,  when  a  later  war  has  given  to  the  navy  vessels 
whose  sides  are  literally  iron,  the  "  Constitution  "  still  holds  her  place  in 
the  hearts  of  the  American  people,  who  think  of  her  lovingly  by  the  well- 
won  title  of  "Old  Ironsides." 

While  we  have  been  following  thus  Stewart  and  his  gallant  frigate  in 
their  final  cruise,  some  smaller  vessels  were  doing  good  work  for  the 
credit  of  the  American  flag.  It  will  be  remembered,  that,  when  the 
"  President "  left    New  York  Bay  on    her   short    and   disastrous   cruise   of 


BLUK-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


;8i 


January,  181 5,  she  left  behind  her,  at  anchor,  the  "Peacock,"  the  "Hornet," 
and   the    "Tom  Bowline.     These   vessels,  knowing  nothing  of  the  fate  of 
their  former  consort,  awaited  only  the  coming  of  a  gale  sufficient  to  drive 
away  the  blockading  squadron.     On  the  22d  of  January  it  came  uj3  to  blow ; 
and  the  three  craft,  under  storm  canvas,  scudded  over  the  bar,  and  made 
for  the  rendezvous  at  Tristan  d' Acunha.     On  the  way  thither  they  separated, 
the  "Hornet"  cruising  alone.     On  the  23d  she  sighted  a  strange  sail  on 
the  horizon,  and,  clapping  on  all  sail,  bore  down  upon  her.     At  the  same 
time  the  stranger  sighted  the  "  Hornet,"  and  made  for  her,  evidently  with 
hostile  intent.     The  two  vessels  approached  each  other  until  within  musket- 
shot,  when   the    stranger  hoisted    English    colors,  and  fired  a  gun.     Capt. 
Biddle  of  the  American  ship  was  ready  for  the  fray,  and  opened  fire  with 
a  broadside.     The  response  of  the  enemy  was  vigorous  and  effective.     For 
fifteen    minutes  the  firing   was  constant ;   but  the  enemy,  seeing  that  the 
Americans  were  getting  the  better  of  the  fight,  then  strove  to  close  and 
board.     This  Biddle  determined  to  avoid,  but    called    up   the   boarders    to 
beat  back  the  enemy,  should  they  succeed  in  closing.     "At  the  instant," 
he   writes,  in    his  official  report,   "every  officer  and    man    repaired  to   the 
quarter-deck,  when  the  two  vessels  were  coming  in   contact,  and    eagerly 
pressed    me   to   permit    them    to   board  the  enemy;  but  this  I  would    not 
permit,    as   it    was   evident,  from    the   commencement    of  the   action,   that 
our  fire  was  greatly  superior,  both  in  quickness  and  effect.     The  enemy's 
bowsprit  came  between  our  main  and  mizzen  rigging,  on  our  starboard  side, 
affording  him  an  opportunity  to  board  us,  if  such  was  his  design  :  but  no 
attempt  was  made.     There  was  a    considerable   swell  on  ;  and,  as  the  sea 
lifted    us   ahead,  the   enemy's    bowsprit    carried   away  our  mizzen-shrouds, 
stern  davits,  and  spankei-boom,  and    he    hung  upon  our  larboard  quarter. 
At  this  moment  an  officer  called  out  that  they  had  surrendered.     I  directed 
the  marines  and  musketry  men  to  cease  firing;  and  while  on  the  taffrail, 
asking  if  they  had  surrendered,  I  received  a  wound  in  the  neck." 

This  wound,  to  which  the  captain  so  casually  alludes,  merits  more  than 
a  passing  reference.  The  fire  of  both  ships  had  ceased  when  Biddle 
stepped  upon    the  taffrail ;  but    he  had   stood  there  only  a  moment,  when 


;82 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


two  or  three  of  the  officers  on  the  quarter-deck  cried  out  that  a  man  on 
the  ICngH.shman  was  aiming  at  him.  Biddle  did  not  hear  the  caution  ;  but 
two  American  marines  saw  the  enemy's  movement,  and,  quickly  l)ringing 
up  their  muskets,  sent  two  balls  crashing  into  the  brain  of  the  luiglish 
marksman.  He  fell  back  dead,  but  had  fired  his  piece  before  falling. 
The  bullet  struck  Biddle  in  the  neck,  inflicting  a  painful,  but  not  serious, 
wound.  The  blood  flowed  freely,  however ;  and  two  sailors,  rushing  up, 
were  about  to  carry  their  commander  to  the  cock-pit,  when  he  stopped 
them.  Determined  to  do  something  to  stanch  the  flowing  blood,  a  sailor 
tore  his  shirt  into  bandages,  with  which  he  bound  up  his  captain's  wound. 
But  let  us  return  to  Biddle's  narrative. 

"  The  enemy  just  then  got  clear  of  us ;  and  his  foremast  and  bowsprit 
being  both  gone,  and  perceiving  us  wearing  to  give  him  a  fresh  broadside, 
he  again  called  out  that  he  had  surrendered.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  I 
could  restrain  my  crew  from  firing  into  him  again,  as  he  had  certainly  fired 
into  us  after  having  surrendered.  From  the  firing  of  the  first  gun,  to 
the  last  time  the  enemy  cried  out  that  he  had  surrendered,  was  exactly 
twenty-two  minutes  by  the  watch.  She  proved  to  be  His  Britannic  Majesty's 
brig  "  Penguin,"  mounting  sixteen  thirty-two-pound  carronades,  two  long 
twelves,  a  twelve-pound  carronadc  on  the  top-gallant  forecastle,  with  a 
swivel  on  the  capstan  in  the  tops." 

On  boarding  the  prize,  Biddle  found  that  she  had  suffered  too  severely 
from  the  American  fire  to  ever  be  of  service  again.  He  accordingly  removed 
the  prisoners  and  wounded  to  his  own  ship,  and  scuttled  the  "Penguin." 
Hardly  was  this  operation  accomplished,  when  two  sail  were  sighted, 
bearing  rapidly  down  upon  the  scene  of  action.  Nothing  daunted,  the 
lads  of  the  "Hornet"  went  to  their  guns,  but  were  heartily  glad  to  find 
that  the  two  vessels  approaching  were  the  "  Peacock"  and  "Tom  Bowline." 
On  their  arrival,  the  latter  vessel  was  converted  into  a  cartel,  and  sent 
into  Rio  de  Janeiro  with  prisoners  ;  while  the  "  Hornet "  and  "  Peacock  " 
cruised  on  toward  the  Indian  Seas.  On  April  28  a  heavy  line-of-battle 
ship  was  sighted,  and  gave  chase.  In  the  flight  the  two  sloops  parted  ;  the 
"  Peacock  "  going  off  unmolested,  while  the  "  Hornet  "  fled,  hotly  pursued 


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i 


!       t 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812.  385 


by  the  enemy.  For  a  time  it  seemed  as  if  the  little  craft  must  fall  a  prey 
to  her  huge  pursuer,  which  had  come  up  within  a  mile,  and  was  firing  great 
shot  at  the  scudding  sloop-of-war.  Overboard  went  cables,  guns,  spars, 
shot,  every  thing  that  would  lighten  the  "Hornet.  "  The  sails  were  wet 
down,  and  every  thing  that  would  draw  was  set.  By  consummate  skill 
liiddle  at  last  succeeded  in  evading  his  pursuer ;  and  on  the  9th  of  June 
the  "  Hornet  entered  New  York  Bay,  without  a  boat  or  anchor,  and  with 
but  one  gun  left.  But  she  brought  the  report  that  the  last  naval  battle  of 
the  war  had  ended  in  victory  for  the  Americans. 

Meanwhile  the  "  Peacock  "  was  returning  from  a  cruise  not  altogether 
void  of  interest.  On  parting  with  the  "Hornet,"  she  had  struck  off  to 
the  southward,  and  in  the  Straits  of  Sundra,  between  Borneo  and  Sumatra, 
had  fallen  in  with  the  East  India  Company's  cruLser  "Nautilus,"  of  four- 
teen guns.  Between  these  two  vessels  an  unfortunate  and  silly  rencounter 
followed.  The  captain  of  the  "Nautilus"  knew  of  the  declaration  of 
peace  ;  and,  as  the  "  Peacock "  bore  down  upon  his  vessel,  he  shouted 
through  a  speaking-trumpet  that  peace  had  been  declared.  To  this 
Capt.  Warrington  of  the  "Peacock"  paid  no  attention,  considering  it  a 
mere  ruse  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  and  responded  by  simply  ordering 
the  British  to  haul  down  their  flag.  This  the  Englishman  very  properly 
refused  to  do,  and  gallantly  prepared  for  the  unequal  combat.  Two 
broadsides  were  then  interchanged,  by  which  the  "  Nautilus  "  was  severely 
cut  up,  and  eight  of  her  crew  killed.  She  then  struck  her  colors.  Capt. 
Warrington,  on  sending  a  boat  aboard  his  adversary,  found  that  the 
declaration  of  peace  was  no  ruse,  but  a  truthful  statement  of  facts.  His 
conduct  had  been  almost  criminally  headstrong;  and,  though  he  was 
profuse  in  formal  apologies,  the  wrong  done  could  never  be  righted. 
The  "  Peacock  "  then  continued  her  homeward  voyage. 

When  this  vessel  reached  port,  the  last  of  the  cruisers  had  returned  ; 
and  the  war  was  over  in  fact,  as  it  had  long  been  over  technically.  It 
has  become  the  fashion  to  say  that  it  was  a  useless  war,  that  served  no 
purpose,  because  the  treaty  by  which  it  was  ended  contained  no  reference 
to   the   hateful   doctrine   of  the   right   of  search,   which,   more   than   any 


386 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


thing  else,  had  brought  on  the  conflict.  Yet,  though  the  conduct  of  the 
war  had  not  led  the  British  to  formally  renounce  their  claims  in  this 
respect,  the  exploits  of  the  American  navy  had  shown  that  the  Yankee 
blue-jackets  were  prepared  to,  and  would,  forcibly  resent  any  attempt  on 
the  part  of  the  British  to  put  those  claims  into  practice.  The  liritish 
had  entered  upon  the  war  gaily,  never  dreaming  that  the  puny  American 
navy  would  offer  any  serious  resistance  to  Great  Britain's  domination 
upon  the  ocean.  Yet  now,  looking  back  over  the  three  years  of  the  war, 
they  saw  an  array  of  naval  battles,  in  the  majority  of  which  the  Ameri- 
cans had  been  victorious  ;  and  in  all  of  which  the  brilliancy  of  American 
naval  tactics,  the  skill  of  the  officers,  and  the  courage  and  discipline  of 
the  crews,  put  the  younger  combatants  on  a  plane  with  the  older  and 
more  famous  naval  service.  Fenimore  Cooper,  in  his  "  History  ot  the 
Navy  of  the  United  States,"  thus  sums  up  the  results  of  this  naval  war: 
"  The  navy  came  out  of  this  struggle  with  a  vast  increase  of  reputation. 
The  brilliant  style  in  which  the  ships  had  been  carried  into  action,  the 
steadiness  and  accuracy  with  which  they  had  been  handled,  and  the  fatal 
accuracy  of  their  fire  on  nearly  every  occasion  had  produced  a  new  era 
in  naval  warfare.  Most  of  the  frigate  actions  had  been  as  soon  decided 
as  circumstances  would  at  all  allow;  and  in  no  instance  was  it  found 
necessary  to  keep  up  the  fire  of  a  sloop-of-war  an  hour,  when  singly 
engaged.  Most  of  the  combats  of  the  latter,  indeed,  were  decided  in 
about  half  that  time.  The  execution  done  in  these  short  conflicts  was 
often  equal  to  that  made  by  the  largest  vessels  of  Europe  in  general 
actions ;  and,  in  some  of  them,  the  slain  and  wounded  comprised  a  very 
large  proportion  of  their  crews.  .  .  .  The  ablest  and  bravest  captains  of 
the  English  fleet  were  ready  to  admit  that  a  new  power  was  about  to 
appear  upon  the  ocean,  and  that  it  was  not  improbable  the  battle  for 
the  mastery  of  the  seas  would  have  to  be  fought  over  again." 


L 


mm 


s. 


,#'S*l\ 


#*- 


^/; 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


PRIVATEERS  AND  PRISONS  OF  THE  WAR.  —  THE  "  ROSSIE."  —  SALEM  PRIVATEERS.  -  THE 
"GEN.  ARMSTRONG"  GIVES  BATTLE  TO  A  BRITISH  SQUADRON,  AND  SAVES  NEW  ORLEANS. 
—  NARR.\T1VE  OF  A  BRITISH  OFFICER.  — THE  "PRINCE  DE  NEUFCHATEL."  — EXPERIENCES 
OF  AMERICAN  PRISONERS  OF  WAR.  — THE  END. 


2 

ml 

O  narrative  of  the  naval  exploits  of  the  Americans  in  the  second 
war  with  Great  Britain  can  be  complete  without  some  account 
of  the  achievements  of  the  fleets  of  privateers  which  for  three 
years  swept  the  seas,  destroying  a  vast  amount  of  the  enemy's 
property ;  and,  while  accomplishing  their  end  by  enriching  their  owners, 
did,  nevertheless,  much  incidental  good  to  the  American  cause.  Seldom 
has  the  business  of  privateering  been  so  extensively  carried  on  as  in  the 
War  of  1812.  For  this  the  reason  lay  in  the  rich  bait  offered  by 
the  world-wide  commerce  of  Great  Britain,  whose  fleets  whitened  every 
known  sea.     Privateering  must  ever  be  a  weapon  wielded   by  the  weaker 

387 


3SS 


HLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


nation  against  the  stronger.  And  Congress,  in  the  wry  Act  by  which  it 
declared  war,  authorized  the  President  to  issue  letters  of  marque  and 
reprisal  to  private  armed  vessels. 

The  declaration  of  war  had  hardly  been  made  public,  when  the  hun- 
dreds of  ship-yards  from  Maine  to  Savannah  resounded  with  the  blows 
of  hammers  and  the  grating  of  saws,  as  the  shipwrights  worked,  busily 
refitting  old  vessels,  or  building  new  ones,  destined  to  cruise  against  the 
commerce  of  John  Bull.  All  sorts  of  vessels  were  employed  in  this 
service.  The  Atlantic  and  Gulf  Coasts  fairly  swarmed  with  small  pilot- 
boats,  mounting  one  long  gun  amidships,  and  carrying  crews  of  twenty 
to  forty  men.  These  little  craft  made  rapid  sallies  into  the  waters  of 
the  Gulf  Stream,  in  search  of  British  West  Indiamcn  homeward  bound. 
Other  privateers  were  huge  three-masters,  carrying  heavy  batteries,  and 
able  to  outsail  any  of  the  enemy's  ships.  On  leaving  port  for  a  long 
cruise,  these  vessels  would  carry  enormous  crews,  so  that  captured  vessels 
might  be  manned  and  sent  home.  After  a  successful  cruise,  such  a 
privateer  returned  to  port  seldom  bringing  more  than  one-fifth  of  the 
crew  with  which  she  had  set  out.  But  the  favorite  rig  for  a  privateer 
was  that  of  the  top-sail  schooner,  —  such  a  rig  as  the  "Enterprise" 
carried  during  the  war  with  France.  The  famous  ship-yards  of  Baltimore 
turned  out  scores  of  clean-cut,  clipper-built  schooners,  with  long,  low 
hulls  and  raking  masts,  which  straightway  took  to  the  ocean  on  privateer- 
ing cruises.  The  armament  of  these  vessels  generally  consisted  of  six 
to  ten  carronades  and  one  long  pivot-gun,  going  by  the  pet  name  of 
"  Long  Tom,"  mounted  amidships.  The  crew  was  usually  a  choice  assort- 
ment of  cut-throats  and  seafaring  vagabonds  of  all  classes,  —  ready  enough 
to  fight  if  plunder  A^as  to  be  gained,  but  equally  icady  to  surrender  if 
only  honor  was  to  be  gained  by  fighting.  Yet  history  records  a  few 
actions  in  which  the  privateersmen  showed  a  steadiness  and  courage 
worthy  of  seamen  of  the  regular  service. 

The  limitations  of  this  work  do  not  permit  a  complete  account  of  the 
work  of  the  privateers  during  the  war.  Although  an  interesting  subject, 
and  one  of   historical   importance,  but  a  few  pages   can  be  devoted  to  it 


RLUE-JACKKl'S  Ol'    1812. 


389 


here.  Properly  treated,  it  woukl  fill  11  volume;  and,  iiideetl,  one  of  the 
most  noted  privatecrsmen  has  left  a  narrative  of  the  exploits  of  the  prin- 
cipal privateers,  whieh  forms  a  very  considerahle  tome.  The  fact  that 
two  hundred  and  fifty  private  armed  c.aisers  under  the  American  fia<; 
captured  or  destroyed  over  sixteen  hundred  Hritish  vessels  will  indicate 
the  importance  and  extent  of  the  suhject.  I'or  us  a  mere  sketch  of  the 
exploits  of  some  of  the  principal  privateers  must  suffice. 

One  of  the  first  things  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  reader,  in 
the  dingy  files  of  some  newspaper  of  18 12-15,  '^  the  grotesque  names 
under  which  many  of  the  privateers  sailed.  The  grandilocjuent  style 
of  the  regular  navy  vanishes,  and  in  its  place  we  find  homely  names  ; 
such  as  "Jaci<'s  Favorite,"  "Lovely  Lass,"  "Row-boat,"  ".Saucy  Jack,"  or 
"True-blooded  Yankee."  Some  names  are  clearly  political  allusions, — as 
tlie  "Orders  in  Council"  and  the  "Fair  Trade."  The  "Black  Joke,"  the 
"Shark,"  and  the  "Anaconda"  must  have  had  a  grim  significance  for 
the  luckless  merchantmen  who  fell  a  prey  to  the  ves.sels  bearing  these 
names.  "Bunker  Hill"  and  "Divided  we  fall,"  though  odd  names  to  sail 
under,  seemed  to  bring  luck  to  the  two  vessels,  which  were  very  successful 
in  their  cruises.  "United  we  stand"  was  a  luckless  craft,  however,  taking 
only  one  prize ;  while  the  achievements  of  the  "  Full-blooded  Yankee " 
and  the  "  Sine  qua  non "  were  equally  limited.  Of  the  "  Poor  Sailor," 
certainly  little  was  to  be  expected ;  and  it  is  with  no  surprise  that  we 
find  she  captured  only  one  prize. 

Among  the  most  successful  privateers  was  the  "  Rossie  "  of  Baltimore, 
commanded  by  the  Revolutionary  veteran  Capt.  Barney,  who  left  her, 
finally,  to  assume  command  of  the  American  naval  forces  on  Chesapeake 
Bay.  She  was  a  clipper-built  schooner,  carrying  fourteen  guns,  and  a 
crew  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men.  The  destruction  wrought  by  this 
one  cruiser  was  enormous.  In  a  ninety  days'  cruise  she  captured,  sunk, 
or  otherwise  destroyed  British  property  to  the  amount  of  a  million  and  a 
half  dollars,  and  took  two  hundred  and  seventeen  prisoners.  All  this 
was  not  done  without  some  hard  fighting.  One  prize  —  His  Britannic 
Majesty's  packet-ship  "Princess  Amelia"  —  was  armed  with  nine-pounders, 


m^ 


390 


BLUfi-JACKETS   OF    181 2. 


^  ! 


1     ^ 


i 


and  made  a  gallant  defence  before  surrendering.  Several  men  were 
killed,  and  the  "  Rossie "  suffered  the  loss  of  her  first  lieutenant.  The 
prisoners  taken  by  the  "  Rossie  "  were  exchanged  for  Americans  captured 
by  the  British.  With  the  first  body  of  prisoners  thus  exchanged,  Barney 
sent  a  cool  note  to  the  British  commander  at  New  Brunswick,  assuring 
him  that  before  long  a  second  batch  of  his  captured  countrymen  should 
be  sent  in. 

Several  Northern  seaports  shared  with  Baltimore  the  business  of  fitting 
out  and  manning  privateers.  The  hardy  seai-'"^n  of  Maine  and  Massachu- 
setts were  ever  ready  for  a  profitable  venture  of  this  kind ;  and,  as  the 
continuation  of  the  war  caused  the  whale-fishery  to  languish,  the  sailors 
gladly  took  up  the  adventurous  life  of  privateersmen.  The  profits  of  a 
successful  cruise  were  enormous ;  and  for  days  after  the  home-coming  of 
a  lucky  privateer  the  little  seaport  into  which  she  came  rang  with  the 
boisterous  shouts  of  the  carousing  sailors.  "  We  still,  in  imagination,  see 
our  streets  filled  with  privateersmen,"  writes  a  historian  of  Portsmouth, 
"  in  groups,  with  blue  ribbons  tied  around  their  hats,  inscribed  in  large 
letters,  '  Succes.s  to  the  "  Fox,"  '  or  whatever  vessel  they  were  to  sail 
in.  And  then  another  scene,  of  sailors  paid  off  with  so  much  money  that 
they  knew  not  what  to  do  with  it.  It  was  one  of  these  men  that,  in  Market 
Square,  put  his  arm  around  a  cow,  kissed  her,  and  put  a  five-dollar  bill 
in  her  mouth,  for  a  good  cud.  Sometimes  they  might  be  seen,  finely 
dressed,  walking  down  the  sunny  streets,  carrying  parasols."  One  Ports- 
mouth privateer  came  to  grief  in  the  West  Indies,  and  was  captured  by 
a  Bi^tish  vessel  of  heavier  metal.  In  the  hold  of  the  privateer  was  a 
considerable  sum  of  money  in  gold  coin,  the  existence  of  which  was 
known  only  to  the  captain  and  his  body-servant,  a  bright  negro.  The 
British,  on  capturing  the  vessel,  put  a  prize-crew  on  board,  and,  while 
taking  the  Yankee  captain  upon  their  own  ship,  left  his  negro  servant  on 
the  prize.  Watching  his  opportunity,  the  negro  brought  up  the  gold  coin, 
and  dropped  it  unobserved  into  a  tub  of  greasy  black  slush  with  which 
he  had  been  slushing  down  the  masts.  S  xne  days  later,  the  captured 
vessel  reached  the  port  to  which  she  had  been  sent,  and  was  tied  up  at 


wm 


BLUE-JACKETS   OF    1812. 


391 


a  wharf  to  await  condemnation.  The  faithful  servant  lingered  about  the 
ship  for  a  time,  saying  that  he  had  no  place  to  go.  At  last  he  was 
gruffly  ordered  to  leave ;  but,  before  going,  he  astonished  the  mate  by 
befsrin":  for  the  tub  of  slush,  which  he  said  might  enable  him  to  earn  a 
few  cents  along  the  docks.  The  mate  carelessly  told  him  to  take  the 
stuff,  and  be  off ;  which  he  promptly  did,  carrying  away  with  him  his  tub 
of  slush,  with  its  concealed  treasure.  It  is  worthy  of  n.^tc,  that  this 
negro,  far  from  home  and  from  the  owners  of  the  money,  paid  it  into  a 
bank  to  the  credit  of  the  captain  whom  he  bad  served. 

Salem,  Mass.,  was  another  great  port  for  privateers  to  hail  from.  Not 
less  than  twenty-five  of  these  predatory  gentry  fitted  out  at  the  quiet 
little  seaside  village ;  and,  when  the  war  was  ended,  few  of  the  inhabitants 
were  unable  to  tell  some  tale  of  personal  adventures,  cruising  against  the 
enemy.  Indeed,  Salem  had  the  honor  of  receiving  the  first  prize  captured 
on  the  ocean  after  the  declaration  of  war;  for  into  the  harbor  came,  on 
the  lOth  of  June,  1812,  the  trim  privateer  schooner  "Fame,"  followed 
close  by  two  ships,  from  the  halliards  of  which  waved  the  British  flag 
surmounted  by  the  stars  and  stripes.  Then  the  whole  town  turned  out 
as  one  man  to  greet  and  cheer  the  captors ;  but,  long  before  the  war  was 
ended,  the  appearance  of  a  prize  in  the  harbor  aroused  little  excitement. 
One  of  the  most  successful  of  the  rovers  sailing  from  this  port  was  the 
"Dolphin,"  whose  record  during  the  war  shows  a  list  of  twenty-two 
captured  vessels.  Her  faculty  for  making  long  cruises,  and  turning  up  in 
the  most  unexpected  places,  made  her  the  dread  of  all  British  sea-captains. 
She  was  manned  by  a  gallant  set  of  lads,  who  had  no  fear  of  hard 
fighting ;  and  many  of  her  prizes  were  won  at  the  cannon's  mouth.  In 
January,  1813,  the  "Dolphin"  fell  in  with  a  British  ship  and  brig  cruising 
together  off  Cape  St.  Vincent.  Though  the  enemy  outnumbered  the 
privateersmen,  and  carried  heavier  metal,  yet  the  "  Dolphin  "  went  gallantly 
into  the  fight,  and  after  a  severe  battle  succeeded  in  taking  both  vessels. 
Great  was  the  astonishment  of  the  British  at  being  thus  snapped  up  by 
a  Yankee  privateer  almost  under  the  guns  of  the  Rock  of  Gibraltar.  The 
luckless  Britons  were  carried  to  America  as  prisoners ;   but  so  kind  was 


392 


BLUK-JACKKTS   OF    1812. 


the  treatment  they  met  with  at  the  hands  of  the  privateers,  that  on 
leaving  the  "Dolphin,"  at  Boston,  they  published  a  card  in  which  they 
said,  "  Should  the  fortune  of  war  ever  throw  Capt.  Stafford  or  any  of  his 
crew  into  the  hands  of  the  British,  it  is  sincerely  hoped  he  will  meet 
with  similar  treatment." 

Perhaps  the  foremost  of  all  the  fighting  privateers  was  the  "  Gen. 
Armstrong "  of  New  York  ;  0  schooner  mounting  eight  long  nines  and 
one  long  twenty-four  on  a  pivot.  She  had  a  crew  of  ninety  men,  and 
was  commanded  on  her  first  cruise  by  Capt.  Guy  R.  Champlin.  This 
vessel  was  one  of  the  first  to  get  to  sea,  and  had  cruised  for  several 
months  with  fair  success,  when  in  March,  18 13,  she  gave  chase  to  a  sail 
off  the  Surinam  River  on  the  coast  of  South  America.  The  stranger 
seemed  to  evince  no  great  desire  to  escape;  and  the  privateer  soon  gained 
sufficiently  to  discover  that  the  supposed  merchantman  was  a  British  sloop- 
of-war,  whose  long  row  of  open  ports  showed  that  she  carried  twenty-seven 
guns.  Champlin  and  his  men  found  this  a  more  ugly  customer  than  they 
had  e.xpected ;  but  it  was  too  late  to  retreat,  and  to  surrender  was  out  of 
the  question  :  so,  calling  the  people  to  the  guns,  Champlin  took  his  ship 
into  action  with  a  steadiness  that  no  old  naval  captain  could  have  exceeded. 
"  Close  quarters  and  quick  work,"  was  the  word  passed  along  the  gun-deck; 
and  the  "  Armstrong  "  was  brought  alongside  her  antagonist  at  a  distant 
of  half  pistol-shot.  For  nearly  an  hour  the  two  vessels  exchanged  rapid 
broadsides  ;  but,  though  the  American  gunners  were  the  better  marksmen, 
the  heavy  build  of  the  sloop-of-war  enabled  her  to  stand  against  broadsides 
which  would  have  cut  the  privateer  to  pieces.  Capt.  Champlin  was  hit 
in  the  shoulder  early  in  the  action,  but  kept  his  station  until  the  fever  of 
his  wound  forced  him  to  retire  to  his  cabin.  However,  he  still  continued 
to  direct  the  course  of  the  action ;  and,  seeing  that  the  tide  of  battle  was 
surely  going  against  him,  he  ordered  the  crew  to  get  out  the  sweeps  and 
pull  away  from  the  enemy,  whose  rigging  was  too  badly  cut  up  to  enable 
her  to  give  chase.  This  was  quickly  done  ;  and  the  "  Gen.  Armstrong," 
though  badly  injured,  and  with  her  decks  covered  with  dead  and  dying 
men,  escaped,  leaving  her  more  powerful  adversary  to  repair  damages  and 


I    ;i 


PRIVATEERSMEN    AT   HOME. 


fl 


i 


H 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


395 


i. 


f- 


f 


make  the  best  of  her  way  home.  Capt.  Champlin,  on  his  arrival  at  New 
York,  was  the  hero  of  the  hour.  For  a  privateer  to  have  held  out  for 
an  hour  against  a  man-of-war,  was  thought  a  feat  worthy  of  praise  from  all 
classes  of  men.  The  merchants  of  the  city  tendered  the  gallant  captain  a 
dinner,  and  the  stockholders  in  his  vessel  presented  him  with  a  costly 
sword. 

But  the  "  Gen.  Armstrong  "  was  destined  to  fight  yet  another  battle, 
which  should  far  eclipse  the  glory  of  her  first.  A  new  captain  was  to 
win  the  laurels  this  time  ;  for  Capt.  Champlin's  wound  had  forced  him 
to.  retire,  and  his  place  was  filled  by  Capt.  Samuel  C.  Reid.  On  the  26th 
of  September,  1814,  the  privateer  was  lying  at  anchor  in  the  roadstead  of 
Fayal.  Over  the  land  that  enclosed  the  snug  harbor  on  three  sides, 
waved  the  flag  of  Portugal,  a  neutral  power,  but  unfortunately  one  of 
insufficient  strength  to  enforce  the  rights  of  neutrality.  While  the  "  Arm- 
strong "  was  thus  lying  in  the  port,  a  British  squadron,  composed  of  the 
"  Plantagenet  "  seventy-four,  the  "  Rota  "  thirty-eight,  and  "  Carnation  " 
eighteen,  hove  in  sight,  and  soon  swung  into  the  harbor  and  dropped 
anchor.  Reid  watched  the  movements  of  the  enemy  with  eager  vigilance. 
He  knew  well  that  the  protection  of  Portugal  would  not  aid  him  in  the 
least  should  the  captain  of  that  seventy-four  choose  to  open  fire  upon  the 
"  Armstrong."  The  action  of  the  British  in  coming  into  the  harbor  was 
in  itself  suspicious,  and  the  American  had  little  doubt  that  the  safety  of 
his  vessel  was  in  jeopardy.  While  he  was  pacing  the  deck,  and  weighing 
in  his  mind  the  probability  of  an  assault  by  the  British,  he  caught  sight 
of  some  unusual  stir  aboard  the  hostile  ships.  It  was  night ;  but  the 
moon  had  risen,  and  by  its  pale  light  Reid  saw  four  large  barges  let  fall 
from  the  enemy's  ships,  and,  manned  by  about  forty  men  each,  make  toward 
his  vessel.  In  an  instant  every  man  on  the  privateer  was  called  to  his  post. 
That  there  was  to  be  an  attack,  was  now  certain ;  and  the  Americans 
determined  not  to  give  up  their  vessel  without  at  least  a  vigorous  attempt 
to  defend  her.  Reid's  first  act  was  to  warp  his  craft  under  the  guns  of  a 
rather  dilapidated  castle,  which  was  supposed  to  uphold  the  authority  of 
Portugal   over  the   island   and  adjacent  waters,     Hardly  had  the  position 


396 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


■i 


i 


been  gained,  when  the  foremost  of  the  British  boats  came  within  hail, 
and  Capt.  Reid  shouted,  "  Boat  ahoy  !  What  boat's  that  ?  "  No  response 
followed  the  hail ;  and  it  was  repeated,  with  the  warning,  "  Answer,  or  I 
shall  fire  into  you."  Still  the  British  advanced  without  responding;  and 
Reid,  firmly  convinced  that  they  purposed  to  carry  his  ship  with  a  sudden 
dash,  ordered  his  gunners  to  open  on  the  boats  with  grape.  This  was  done, 
and  at  the  first  volley  the  British  turned  and  made  off.  Capt.  Reid  then 
warped  his  vessel  still  nearer  shore ;  and  bending  springs  on  her  cable,  so 
that  her  broadside  might  be  kept  always  toward  the  enemy,  he  awaited 
a  second  attack.  At  midnight  the  enemy  were  seen  advancing  again,  this 
time  with  fourteen  barges  and  about  five  hundred  men.  While  the  flotilla 
was  still  at  long  r  nge,  the  Americans  opened  fire  upon  them  with  the 
heavy  "  Long  Tom ; "  and,  as  they  came  nearer,  the  full  battery  of  long 
nine-pounders  took  up  the  fight.  The  carnage  in  the  advancing  boats  was 
terrible;  but  the  plucky  Englishmen  pushed  on,  meeting  the  privateer's 
fire  with  volleys  of  musketry  and  carronades.  Despite  the  American  fire, 
the  British  succeeded  in  getting  under  the  bow  and  quarter  of  the  "  Arm- 
strong," and  strove  manfully  to  board  ;  while  the  Americans  fought  no  less 
bravely  to  keep  them  back.  The  attack  became  a  furious  hand-to-hand 
battle.  From  behind  the  boarding-nettings  the  Americans  thrust  pikes, 
and  fired  pistols  and  muskets,  at  their  assailants,  who,  mounted  on  each 
other's  shoulders,  were  hacking  fiercely  at  the  nettings  which  kept  them 
from  gaining  the  schooner's  deck.  The  few  that  managed  to  clamber  on 
the  taffrail  of  the  "  Armstrong "  were  thrust  through  and  through  with 
pikes,  and  hurled,  thus  horribly  impaled,  into  the  sea.  The  fighting  was 
fiercest  and  deadliest  on  the  quarter ;  for  there  were  most  of  the  enemy's 
boats,  and  there  Capt.  Reid  led  the  defence  in  person.  So  hot  was  the 
reception  met  by  the  British  at  this  point,  that  they  drew  off  in  dismay, 
despairing  of  ever  gaining  the  privateer's  deck.  Hardly  did  Reid  see  the 
enemy  thus  foiled  on  the  quarter,  when  a  chorus  of  British  cheers  from  the 
forecastle,  mingled  with  yells  of  rage,  told  that  the  enemy  had  succeeded  in 
effecting  a  lodgement  there.  Calling  his  men  about  him,  the  gallant  captain 
4:..:-hed  forward  and  was  soon  in  the  front  rank  of  the  defenders,  dealing 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


397 


furious  blows  with  his  cutlass,  and  crying  out,  "  Come  on,  my  lads,  and 
we'll  drive  them  into  the  sea."  The  leadership  of  an  officer  was  all 
that  the  sailors  needed.  The  three  lieutenants  on  the  forecastle  had 
been  killed  or  disabled,  else  the  enemy  had  never  come  aboard.  With 
Reid  to  cheer  them  on,  the  sailors  rallied,  and  with  a  steady  advance 
drove  the  British  back  into  their  boats.  The  disheartened  enemy  did 
not  return  to  the  attack,  but  returned  to  their  ships,  leaving  behind  two 
boats  captured  and  two  sunk.  Their  loss  in  the  attack  was  thirty-four 
killed  and  eighty-six  wounded.  On  the  privateer  were  two  killed  and  seven 
wounded. 

But  the  attack  was  not  to  end  here.  Reid  was  too  old  a  sailor  to  expect 
that  the  British,  chagrined  as  they  were  by  two  repulses,  were  likely  to 
leave  the  privateer  in  peace.  He  well  knew  that  the  withdrawal  of  the 
barges  meant  not  an  abandonment,  but  merely  a  short  discontinuance,  of 
the  attack.  Accordingly  he  gave  his  crew  scarcely  time  to  rest,  before 
he  set  them  to  work  getting  the  schooner  in  trim  for  another  battle. 
The  wounded  were  carried  below,  and  the  decks  cleared  of  splinters  and 
wreckage.  The  boarding-nettings  were  patched  up,  and  hung  again  in 
place.  "  Long  Tom  "  had  been  knocked  off  his  carriage  by  a  carronade 
shot,  and  had  to  be  remounted ;  but  all  was  done  quickly,  and  by  morning 
the  vessel  was  ready  for  whatever  might  be  in  store  for  her.  The  third 
assault  was  made  soon  after  daybreak.  Evidently  the  enemy  despaired  of 
his  ability  to  conquer  the  privateersmen  in  a  hand-to-hand  battle ;  for  this 
time  he  moved  the  brig  "  Carnation  "  up  within  range,  and  opened  fire  upon 
the  schooner.  The  man-of-war  could  fire  nine  guns  at  a  broadside,  while  the 
schooner  could  reply  with  but  seven ;  but  "  Long  Tom  "  proved  the  salva- 
tion of  the  privateer.  The  heavy  twenty-four-pound  shots  from  this  gun 
did  so  much  damage  upon  the  hull  of  the  brig,  that  she  was  forced  to  draw 
out  of  the  action ;  leaving  the  victory,  for  the  third  time,  with  the 
Americans. 

But  now  Capt.  Reid  decided  that  it  was  folly  to  longer  continue  the 
conflict.  The  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy  made  any  thought  of 
ultimate  escape  folly.      It   only   remained   for  the    British   to  move  the 


398 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


i      'I 


seventy-four  "  Plantagenet "  into  action  to  seal  the  doom  of  the  Yankee 
privateer.  The  gallant  defence  already  made  by  the  Americans  had  cost 
the  British  nearly  three  hundred  men  in  killed  and  wounded ;  and  Reid 
now  determined  to  destroy  his  vessel,  and  escape  to  the  shore.  The  great 
pivot-gun  was  accordingly  pointed  down  the  main  hatch,  and  two  heavy 
shots  sent  crashing  through  the  bottom.  Then  applying  the  torch,  to 
make  certain  the  work  of  destruction,  the  privateersmen  left  the  ship, 
giving  three  cheers  for  the  gallant  "  Gen.  Armstrong,"  as  a  burst  of  flame 
and  a  roar  told  that  the  flames  had  reached  her  magazine. 

This  gallant  action  won  loud  plaudits  for  Capt.  Reid  when  the  news 
reached  the  United  States.  Certainly  no  vessel  of  the  regular  navy 
was  ever  more  bravely  or  skilfully  defended  than  was  the  "  Gen.  Arm- 
strong." But,  besides  the  credit  won  for  the  American  arms,  Reid  had 
unknowingly  done  his  country  a  memorable  service.  The  three  vessels 
that  attacked  him  were  bound  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  to  assist  in  the 
attack  upon  New  Orleans.  The  havoc  Reid  wrought  among  their  crews, 
and  the  damage  he  inflicted  upon  the  "Carnation,"  so  delayed  the  New 
Orleans  expedition,  that  Gen.  Jackson  was  able  to  gather  those  motley 
troops  that  fought  so  well  on  the  plains  of  Chalmette.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  plucky  fight  of  the  lads  of  the  "  Gen.  Armstrong,"  the  British 
forces  would  have  reached  New  Orleans  ten  days  earlier,  and  Packen- 
ham's  expedition  might  have  ended  very  differently. 

The  "  Plantagenet "  and  her  consorts  were  not  the  only  British  men-of- 
war  bound  for  New  Orleans  that  fell  in  with  warlike  Yankee  privateers. 
Some  of  the  vessels  from  the  Chesapeake  squadron  met  a  privateer,  and 
a  contest  ensued,  from  which  the  American  emerged  with  less  glory  than 
did  the  lads  of  the  "Gen.  Armstrong."  A  young  British  officer  in  his 
journal  thus  tells  the  story :  — 

"It  was  my  practice  to  sit  for  hours,  after  .nightfall,  upon  the  taff- 
rail,  and  strain  my  eyes  in  the  attempt  to  distinguish  objects  on  shore, 
or  strange  sails  in  the  distance.  It  so  happened  that  on  the  30th  I  was 
tempted  to  indulge  in  this  idle  but  bewitching  employment  even  beyond 
my  usual  hour  for  retiring,  and  did  not  quit  the  deck  till  towards   two 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


399 


o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  31st  [of  October].  I  had  just  entere^i  my 
cabin,  and  was  beginning  to  undress,  when  a  cry  from  above  of  an  enemy 
iu  chase  drew  me  instantly  to  the  quarter-deck.  On  looking  astern  I 
perceived  a  vessel  making  directly  after  us,  and. was  soon  convinced  of 
the  justice  of  the  alarm,  by  a  shot  which  whistled  over  our  heads.  All 
hands  were  now  called  to  quarters,  the  small  sails  taken  in ;  and  having 
spoken  to  our  companion,  and  made  an  agreement  as  to  position,  both 
ships  cleared  for  action.  But  the  stranger,  seeing  his  signal  obeyed  with 
so  much  alacrity,  likewise  slackened  sail,  and,  continuing  to  keep  us  in 
view,  followed  our  wake  without  approaching  nearer.  In  this  state  things 
continued  till  daybreak,  —  we  still  holding  our  course,  and  he  hanging 
back ;  but,  as  soon  as  it  was  light,  he  set  more  sail  and  ran  to  windward, 
moving  just  out  of  gun-shot  in  a  parallel  direction  with  us.  It  was  now 
necessary  to  fall  upon  some  plan  of  deceiving  him  ;  otherwise,  there  was 
little  probability  that  he  would  attack.  In  the  bomb,  indeed,  the  height 
of  the  bulwarks  served  to  conceal  some  of  the  men  ;  but  in  the  transport 
no  such  screen  existed.  The  troops  were  therefore  ordered  below  ;  and 
only  the  sailors,  a  few  blacks,  and  the  officers  kept  the  deck.  The  same 
expedient  was  likewise  adopted  in  part  by  Capt.  Price  of  the  '  Volcano ; ' 
and,  in  order  to  give  to  his  ship  a  .still  greater  resemblance  than  it 
already  had  to  a  merchantman,  he  displayed  an  old  faded  scarlet  ensign, 
and  drew  up  his  fore  and  main  sail  in  what  sailors  term  a  lubberly 
manner. 

"  As  yet  the  stranger  had  shown  no  colors,  but  from  her  build  and  rig- 
ging there  was  little  doubt  as  to  her  country.  She  was  a  beautiful  schooner, 
presenting  seven  ports  of  a  side,  and  apparently  crowded  with  men,  —  cir- 
cumstances which  immediately  led  us  to  believe  that  she  was  an  American 
privateer.  The  'Volcano,'  on  the  other  hand,  was  a  clumsy,  strong-built 
ship,  carrying  twelve  guns ;  and  the  '  Golden  Fleece '  mounted  eight :  so 
that  in  point  of  artillery  the  advantage  was  rather  on  our  side;  but  the 
American's  sailing  was  so  much  superior  to  that  of  either  of  us,  that  this 
advantage  was  more  than  counter-balanced. 

"  Having  dodged  us  till  eight  o'clock,  and  reconnoitred  with  great  exact- 


;i 


400 


bluk-jacki:ts  of  1812. 


ness,  the  stranger  began  to  steer  gradually  nearer  and  nearer,  till  at  length 
it  was  judged  that  she  was  within  range.  A  gun  was  accordingly  fired 
from  the  '  Volcano,'  and  another  from  the  transport ;  the  balls  from  both 
of  which  passed  over  her,  and  fell  into  the  sea.  Finding  herself  thus 
assaulted,  she  now  threw  off  all  disguise,  and  hung  out  an  American 
ensign.  When  putting  her  helm  up,  she  poured  a  broadside  with  a  volley 
of  musketry  into  the  transport,  and  ran  alongside  of  the  bomb,  which  sailed 
to  windward. 

"  As  soon  as  her  flag  was  displayed,  and  her  intention  of  attacking 
discerned,  all  hands  were  ordered  up ;  and  she  received  two  well-directed 
broadsides  from  the  '  Volcano,'  as  well  as  a  warm  salute  from  the  '  Golden 
Fleece.'  But  such  was  the  celerity  of  her  motion,  that  she  was  alongside  of 
the  bomb  in  less  time  than  can  be  imagined,  and  actually  dashing  her  bow 
against  the  other,  attempted  to  carry  her  by  boarding.  vJapt.  Price,  how- 
ever, was  ready  to  receive  them.  The  boarders  were  at  their  posts  in  an 
instant ;  and  Jonathan  finding,  to  use  a  vulgar  phrase,  that  he  had  caught 
a  Tartar,  left  about  twenty  men  upon  the  '  Volcano's  '  bowsprit,  all  of  whom 
were  thrown  into  the  sea,  and  filling  his  sails  sheered  off  with  the  same 
speed  with  which  he  had  borne  down.  In  attempting  to  escape,  he  unavoid- 
ably fell  somewhat  to  leeward,  and  exposed  the  whole  of  his  deck  to  the  fire 
of  the  transport.  A  tremendous  discharge  of  musketry  saluted  him  as  he 
passed  ;  and  it  was  almost  laughable  to  witness  the  haste  with  which  his 
crew  hurried  below,  leaving  none  upon  deck  except  such  as  were  absolutely 
wanted  to  work  the  vessel. 

"  The  '  Volcano '  had  by  this  time  filled  and  gave  chase,  firing  with 
great  precision  at  his  yards  and  rigging,  in  the  hope  of  disabling  him. 
But,  as  fortune  would  have  it,  none  of  his  important  ropes  or  yards  were 
cut ;  and  we  had  the  mortification  to  see  him  in  a  few  minutes  beyond  our 
reach." 

An  exploit  of  yet  another  privateer  should  be  chronicled  before  the  sub- 
ject of  the  private  armed  navy  can  be  dismissed.  On  the  nth  of  October, 
1814,  the  brigantine  privateer  "Prince  de  Neufchatel,"  seventeen  guns,  was 
encountered  near  Nantucket  by  the  British  frigate  "Endymion,"  —  the  same 


^S 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


401 


ship  which  was  so  roughly  handled  by  the  •'  President  "  in  her  last  battle. 
About  nine  o'clock  at  night,  a  calm  having  come  on,  the  frigate  despatched 


a  boarding  party  of  a  hundred  and  eleven 
ture  the  privateer.  The  latter  vessel  was 
forty  men  ;  but  this  handful  of  Yankee  tars 
the  attack.  The  guns  were  charged  with 
boarding-nettings  triced  up,  and  cutlasses 
the  crew.  As  the  British  came  on,  the 
notwithstanding  which  the  enemy  dashed 
fiercely  to  gain  the  deck. 
But  in  this  they  were 
foiled  by  the  gallantry 
of  the  defenders,  who 
fought  desperately, 
and  cut  down  the 
few  British  who 
managed  to  gain 
a  foothold.  The 
conflict  was 
short,  and  the 
discomfiture 
of  the  ene- 
my com 
plete. 


it 


men  in  five  boats  to  cap- 
shorthanded,  having  but 
gallantly  prepared  to  meet 
grape  and  canister,  the 
and  pistols  distributed  to 
Americans  opened  fire, 
alongside,    and     strove 


PRISON  CHAPLAIN  AND  JAILOR. 

After  but  a  few  minutes'  fighting,  one  boat  was  sunk,  one  captured,  and 
the  other  three  drifted  helplessly  away,  filled  with  dead  and  dying.  The 
total  loss  of  the  British  in  this  affair  was  twenty-eight  killed  and  thirty- 


402 


HLUD-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


seven  wounded.  Of  the  crew  of  the  privateer,  seven  were  killed,  and  nine 
only  remained  unhurt. 

A  narrative  of  the  exploits  of,  and  service  done  by,  the  American 
sailors  in  the  War  of  18 12  would  be  incomplete  if  it  said  nothing  of 
the  sufferings  of  that  great  body  of  tars  who  spent  the  greater  part 
of  the  war  season  confined  in  British  prisons.  Several  thousand  of  the.se 
were  thrown  into  confinement  before  the  war  broke  out,  because  they 
refused  to  serve  against  their  country  in  British  ships.  Others  were 
prisoners  of  war.  No  exact  statistics  as  to  the  number  of  Americans 
thus  imprisoned  have  ever  been  made  public ;  but  the  records  of  one 
great  prison  —  that  at  Dartmoor  —  show,  that,  when  the  war  closed,  six 
thousand  American  seamen  were  imprisoned  there,  twenty-five  hundred 
of  whom  had  been  detained  from  long  before  the  opening  of  the  war,  on 
account  of  their  refusal  to  join  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  As  I  write, 
there  lies  before  me  a  quaint  little  book,  put  out  anonymously  in  18 15, 
and  purporting  to  be  the  "Journal  of  a  Young  Man  captured  by  the 
British."  Its  author,  a  young  surgeon  of  Salem,  named  Waterhouse,  shipped 
on  a  Salem  privateer,  and  was  captured  early  in  the  war.  His  experience 
with  British  prisons  and  transport-ships  was  long ;  and  against  his  jailors 
he  brings  shocking  charges  of  brutality,  cruelty,  and  negligence. 

The  Yankee  seamen  who  were  captured  during  the  war  were  first 
consigned  to  receiving-prisons  at  the  British  naval  stations  in  America. 
Sometimes  these  places  of  temporary  detention  were  mouldering  hulks, 
moored  in  bays  or  rivers  ;  sometimes  huge  sheds  hastily  put  together,  and 
in  which  the  prisoners  were  kept  only  by  the  unceasing  vigilance  of 
armed  guards.  "The  prison  at  Halifax,"  writes  Waterhouse,  "erected 
solely  for  the  safe-keeping  of  prisoners  of  war.  lesembles  an  horse-stable, 
with  stalls,  or  stanchions,  for  keeping  the  cattle  from  each  other.  It  is 
to  a  contrivance  of  this  sort  that  they  attach  the  cords  that  support  those 
canvas  bags  or  cradles,  called  hammocks.  Four  tier  of  these  hanging 
nests  were  made  to  hang,  one  above  the  other,  between  these  stalls,  or 
stanchions.  .  .  .  The  general  hum  and  confused  noise  from  almost  every 
hammock  was  at  first  very  distressing.     Some  would  be  lamenting  their 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF   1812. 


403 


hard  fate  at  being  shut  up  like  negro  slaves  in  a  Guinea  ship,  or  like 
fowls  in  a  hen-coop,  for  no  crime,  but  for  fighting  the  battles  of  their 
country;  others,  late  at  night,  were  relating  their  adventures  to  a  new 
prisoner  ;  others,  lamenting  their  aberrations  from  rectitude,  and  disobe- 
dience to  parents,  and  headstrong  wilfulness,  that  drove  them  to  sea, 
contrary  to  their  parents'  wish  ;  while  others,  of  the  younger  class,  were 
sobbing  out  their  lamentations  at  the  thoughts  of  what  their  mothers 
and  sisters  suffered  after  knowing  of  their  imprisonment.  Not  unfre- 
quently  the  whole  night  was  spent  in  this  way  ;  and  when,  about  day- 
break, the  weary  prisoner  fell  into  a  doze,  he  was  waked  from  his  slumber 
by  the  grinding  noise  of  the  locks,  and  the  unbarring  of  the  doors,  with 
the  cry  of  '  Turn  out !  All  out ! '  when  each  man  took  down  his  ham- 
mock, and  lashed  it  up,  and  slung  it  on  his  back,  and  was  ready  to  answer 
to  the  roll-call  of  the  turnkey." 

From  prisons  such  as  this,  the   prisoners  were  conveyed  in  droves  to 

England,  in   the  holds  of  men-of-war  and  transports.      Poorly  fed,  worse 

housed,    and    suffering    for   lack    of    air  and    room,   their  agony   on  the 

voyage  was  terrible.     When  they  were  allowed  a  few  hours'  time  on  deck, 

they  were  sure  to  arouse  the  anger  of  the  officers   by  turbulent  conduct 

or  imprudent  retorts.     "One  morning  as  the  general  and   the  captain   of 

the  '  Regulus '  (transport)  were  walking  as  usual  on  the  quarter-deck,  one 

of  our  Yankee  boys  passed  along  the  galley  with  his  kid  of  burgoo.     He 

rested  it  on  the  hatchway  while  he  adjusted  the  rope  ladder  to  descend 

with  his  swill.     The  thing  attracted  the  attention  of  the  general,  who  asked 

the  man  how  many  of  his  comrades  eat  of  that  quantity  for  their  breakfast. 

'  Six,  sir,'  said  the  man,  '  but  it  is  fit  food  only  for  hogs.'     This  answer 

affronted  the  captain,  who  asked  the  man  in  an  angry  tone,  '  What  part  of 

America  he   came   from  > '     '  Near  to  Bunker  Hill,  sir,  if  you  ever  heard 

of  that  place,'  was  the  answer."     On  another  occasion,  a  Yankee  and  a 

slightly  wounded   British   marine  got  into  a  dispute,  and  came  to  blows. 

The   British   captain   saw  the   occurrence,  and   accused   the   American   of 

cowardice  in  striking  a  wounded  man.     "  I   am  no  coward,  sir,"  said   the 

Yankee.      "  I  was  captain  of  a  gun  on  board  the  '  Constitution  '  when  she 


( 

1  • 


404 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812. 


captured  the  'Guerrierc,'  and  afterward  when  she  took  the  'Java.'  Had  I 
been  a  fCAvard,  I  should  not  have  been  there." 

On  one  occasion  the  prisoners  on  the  transport  "  Crown  Prince,"  lying 
in  the  River  Medvvay,  took  an  uncontrollable  dislike  to  the  commander  of 
a  second  transport  lying  close  alongside.  Their  spite  was  gratified  quickly 
and  with  great  effect.  The  rations  served  out  to  the  luckless  captives  at 
that  time  consisted  of  fish  and  cold  potatoes.  The  latter  edible  being  of 
rather  poor  quality,  the  prisoners  reserved  for  missiles ;  and  the  obno.xious 
officer  could  not  pace  his  quarter-deck  without  being  made  a  mark  for  a 
shower  of  potatoes.  Vainly  did  he  threaten  to  call  up  his  marines  and 
respond  with  powder  and  lead :  the  Americans  were  not  to  be  kept  down ; 
and  for  some  days  the  harassed  (jfficer  hardly  dared  to  show  himself  upon 
deck. 

The  place  of  final  detention  for  most  of  the  prisoners  taken  in  the  war 
with  America  was  Dartmoor  Prison  ;  a  rambling  collection  of  huge  frame 
buildings,  surrounded  by  double  walls  of  wood.  The  number  of  prisoners 
confined  there,  and  the  length  of  time  which  many  of  them  had  spent 
within  its  walls,  gave  this  place  many  of  the  characteristics  of  a  small 
State,  with  rulers  and  officials  of  its  own.  One  of  the  strangest  characters 
of  the  prison  was  King  Dick,  a  gigantic  negro,  who  ruled  over  the  five 
or  si.\  hundred  negro  prisoners.  "  He  is  si.\  feet  five  inches  in  height," 
says  one  of  the  prisoners,  "and  proportionally  large.  This  black  Hercules 
commands  respect,  and  his  subjects  tremble  in  his  presence.  He  goes 
the  rounds  every  day,  and  visits  every  berth,  to  see  if  they  all  are  kept 
clean.  When  he  goes  the  rounds,  he  puts  on  a  large  bear-skin  cap,  and 
carries  in  his  hand  a  huge  club.  If  any  of  his  men  are  dirty,  drunken, 
or  grossly  negligent,  he  threatens  them  with  a  beating ;  and  if  they  are 
saucy  they  are  sure  to  receive  one.  They  have  several  times  conspired 
against  him,  and  attempted  to  dethrone  him  ;  but  he  has  always  conquered 
the  rebels.  One  night  several  attackc  d  him  while  asleep  in  his  hammock : 
he  sprang  up,  and  seized  the  smallest  by  his  feet,  and  thumped  another 
with  him.  The  poor  negro,  who  had  thus  been  made  a  beetle  of,  was 
carried    the    next    day   to    the    hospital,   sadly  bruised,   and    provokingly 


KING  DICK    '^'.  U   HIS  CHAPLAIN. 


f 


>31 

ill 


BLUE-JACKETS  OF    1812.  407 


laughed  at."  King  Dick,  to  further  uphold  his  dignity  as  a  monarch,  had 
his  private  chaplain,  who  followed  his  royal  master  about,  and  on  Sundays 
preached  rude  but  vigorous  sermons  to  His  Majesty's  court.  On  week- 
days the  court  was  far  from  being  a  dignified  gathering.  King  Dick  was 
a  famous  athlete,  and  in  the  cock-loft,  over  which  he  reigned,  was  to  be 
seen  fine  boxing  and  fencing.  Gambling,  too,  was  not  ruled  out  of  the  royal 
list  of  amusements ;  and  the  cries  of  the  players,  mingled  with  the  singing 
of  the  negroes,  and  the  sounds  of  the  musical  instruments  upon  which  they 
played,  made  that  section  of  the  prison  a  veritable  pandemonium. 

But  although  some  few  incidents  occurred  to  brighten  momentarily  the 
dull  monotony  of  the  prisoners'  lot,  the  life  of  these  unfortunate  men, 
while  thus  imprisoned,  was  miserable  and  hateful  to  them.  Months 
passed,  and  even  years,  but  there  seemed  to  be  no  hope  for  release. 
At  last  came  the  news  of  the  declaration  of  peace.  How  great  then 
was  the  rejoicing!  Thoughts  of  home,  of  friends  and  kindred,  flooded 
the  minds  of  all ;  and  even  strong  men,  whom  the  hardships  of  prison- 
life  had  not  broken  down,  seemed  to  give  way  all  at  once  to  tears  of 
joy.  But  the  delays  of  official  action,  "red-tape,"  and  the  sluggishness 
of  travel  in  that  day,  kept  the  poor  fellows  pent  up  for  months  after 
the  treaty  of  peace  had  been  announced  to  them.  Nor  were  they  to 
escape  without  suffering  yet  more  severely  at  the  hands  of  their  jailors. 
Three  months  had  passed  since  peace  had  been  declared  ;  and  the  long 
delay  so  irritated  the  prisoners,  that  they  chafed  under  prison  restraint, 
and  snowed  evidences  of  a  mutinous  spirit.  The  guards,  to  whom  was 
intrusted  the  difficult  task  of  keeping  in  subjection  six  thousand  ijnpaticnt 
a*  1  desperate  men,  grew  nervous,  fearing  that  at  any  moment  the  horde 
of  prisoners  would  rise  and  sweep  away  all  before  them.  An  outbreak 
was  imminent ;  and  the  prisoners  were  like  a  magazine  of  gunpowder, 
needing  but  a  spark  of  provocation  to  explode.  On  April  6,  1815,  matters 
reached  a  crisis.  The  soldiers,  losing  all  presence  of  mind,  fired  on  the 
defenceless  Americans,  killing  five  men  and  wounding  thirty-four.  Thus 
the  last  blood  shed  in  the  War  of  1812  was  the  blood  of  unarmed  prisoners. 
But  the  massacre,  horrible  and   inexcusable   as   it  was,  had   the   effect  of 


4o8 


blue-jackp:ts  of  1812. 


hastening  the  release  of  the  survivors  ;  and  soon  the  last  of  the  captives 
was  on  his  way  home  to  the  country  over  which  peace  at  last  reigned 
again. 

Here  we  must  leave  the  blue-jackets  who  so  bravely  fought  for  "free 
trade   and   sailors'  rights."     Their  place   in   history  is  a  great   and  noble 


i    i 


5 


./ 


.     r' 


■^■^^nL.   ri  II  7^   'ill    •-■•^-'   '-'^•'^^S^^^-         / 


^ife 


•^ 


m 


\  ' 


■^ 


THE  LAST  VOLLEY  OF  THE  WAR. 

one.  As  the  ragged  Continentals  of  '7^  brought  a  new  nation  into 
existence,  so  the  blue-jackets  of  18 12  defended  the  honor  of  that  nation, 
and  first  gave  its  flag  an  honorable  place  upon  the  ocean.  Sixty  years 
later,  when  the  safety  of  that  flag  was  endangered,  their  descendants 
rallied  to  its  defence;  and  some  of  the  midshipmen  of  the  days  of  1812 
were  admirals  and  commodores  in  '61.     Should  ever,  in  future  times,  the 


BLUV. -JACKETS   OF    1812. 


409 


young  Republic  of  the  West  need  the  services  of  its  fighting  Jacic  Tars 
on  the  ocean,  many  of  the  names  famous  in  the  naval  annals  of  the  past 
will  re-appear  in  the  naval  lists  of  the  time  of  action.  By  the  records  of 
history  the  United  States  navy  can  prove,  that,  in  courage,  dash,  and 
seamanlike  character,  its  officers  and  men  have  never  been  outdone.  The 
present  day  sees  the  service  languishing,  through  unwise  legislation  which 
has  permitted  the  nation  to  find  itself  without  a  single  vessel  available 
for  active  and  effective  service  against  the  navy  of  any  first-class  power. 
That  this  results  simply  from  the  re-action  from  the  tremendous  efforts 
of  the  late  civil  war,  is  certain ;  and  that  in  the  future  the  United 
States  will  have  a  navy  suited  lo  her  place  among  nations,  seems  now 
probable.  And  if  this  simple  story  of  some  of  the  achievements  of  a  past 
generation  of  blue-jackets  shall  win  one  adherent  to  the  cause  of  the 
navy  of  the  future,  the  purpose  of  the  work  will  be  fulfilled. 


^i^-^^^ 


